Summary
Date: 30 January 2019
The RACGP has submitted to the federal review of the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) program's delivery by the National Prescribing Service (NPS MedicineWise) regarding its implications for general practice.
NPS MedicineWise is funded to provide evidence-based information, support tools and education services to health professionals and consumers to improve the quality use of medicines and diagnostic services in Australia.
The review will inform future Australian government policy settings for the delivery of the Quality Use of Medicines program.The RACGP's submission makes the following key recommendations.
- NPS MedicineWise's commercial arm, VentureWise, should be subject to a separate and independent review.
- MedicineInsight's data use should be subject to a separate review.
- NPS MedicineWise's activities could be broadened from individual medicines or diseases to include activities about improving practice systems to support QUM.
- Health outcomes should be used to evaluate the programs delivered by NPS MedicineWise.