Quality Use of Medicines

The National Medicines Policy

The overall aim of the National Medicines Policy is to meet medication and related service needs so that both optimal health outcomes and economic objectives are achieved.

The central objectives of this policy are:

• Timely access to the medicines that Australians need (so that Australians can get the medicines they need and not have to wait too long for these to be available), at a cost individuals and the community can afford;
• Medicines meeting appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy;
• Quality use of medicines; and
• Maintaining a responsible and viable medicines industry.

Source: National Medicines Policy, Department of Health and Ageing

Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)

Quality use of medicines is central to this policy – it means making sure that when medicine is needed it is:

• Prescribed correctly;
• Available when needed;
• Affordable;
• Correctly dispensed;
• Taken in the right dose, for the right amount of time; and
• Effective, safe and of good quality.

Working together to achieve quality use

The key partners involved in ensuring that there is quality use of medicines are:

• Those who take or consider taking medicines (health are consumers);
•  Those who prescribe, provide and monitor the use of medicines (health professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses);
• Those who provide health services within hospital and community settings (health and aged-care facilities);
• Those who develop, make, market, distribute and sell medicines (the medicines industry);
• Those who fund and/or purchase in both the public and private sectors health services of which medicines play an important part (health care funders and purchasers); and
• The Governments who assess, register, monitor the safety and provide equity of access to medicine (Commonwealth, States, Territories and Local Governments).

To achieve quality use of medicines, everyone needs the information and skills to make wise decisions about using medicines.
Everyone needs to work together.

Consumers need information and the skills to be able to use medicines well, to know who and how to ask for assistance.

Health professionals need resources and training so they can help their patients to achieve the best possible results from medical care.

The Medicines Industry continues producing high quality and effective medicines and market medicines in a way that encourages quality use. Industry provides good quality information and education services which promote the quality use of medicines.

Governments should further develop and act on this policy. A policy on the quality use of medicines can be placed in the wider context of all the health services government provides. There needs to be a combined approach of regulation and education.

How does the Medicines Industry contribute to QUM?

1. Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is easy-to-understand information about specific medicines written especially for the consumer. CMIs answer many of the common questions people may have about the medicines they take. CMIs are provided in two ways: as a print-out from a pharmacist’s or doctor’s computer; or directly from the manufacturer as an insert in the medicine pack or carton. Some company websites may also have CMIs available for consumers.

Consumers should be encouraged to ask their pharmacist or doctor for a CMI. There are already CMIs available for almost every prescription medicine and some over-the-counter items. Eventually CMIs will be available for all prescription medicines, as well as for some non-prescription medicines. CMIs are intended to answer people’s questions and provide information.

2. Information access programs

Information access programs are available for people taking medicines to treat certain long-term conditions. Services include telephone access to health professionals and customised information on medicines, treatment and lifestyle issues.

3. Product Information and educational materials for health professionals

These give health professionals accurate and detailed information about medicines. The industry also provides medical information services to answer specific questions about medicines and their use.

Hints for taking medicines

• Take your medicines at the right time. Some medicines work best when taken on an empty stomach, while others should be taken with food. Ask your pharmacist.
• Sometimes you may need to take medicines for a long time. Make sure you follow the instructions regarding the length of time that you need to take your medicine.
• Follow the instructions. Make sure you know of any precautions that you need to take, such as not drinking alcohol or not driving.
• Ask about the possible side effects. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you have.
• If the treatment doesn’t seem to be working, go back to your doctor. Don’t stop taking the medicine without speaking to a doctor. There could be a number of reasons why the medicine isn’t working.
• Be careful if taking other medicines. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about how a new medicine will react with other medicines you are taking, regardless of whether they are prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
• Don’t take any medicines not prescribed for you, and don’t share your medicines with somebody else. Different medicines may affect different people in different ways, and may be ineffective or harmful if a person they were not prescribed for takes them.
• Don’t use out-of-date medicines. Medicines, which have passed their use-by date, may have no effect at all, and could in fact be harmful. Take out-of-date medicines to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
• If you are having trouble paying for your medicine, please talk to your doctor – stopping your medicine may be harmful.

Modern medicines have a great potential to improve health, but to be effective they need to be taken correctly.

Most of the information you need on the medicine you are taking can be found in your Consumer Medicine Information leaflet. If it is not, or if you want more information, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.