CHF Projects - Community Quality Use of Medicines Project 2008-09

Health consumers want information about how to use medicines safely, wisely and appropriately. This information must be readily available and easy to understand.

The Community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Project 2008-09 supports health consumer organisations and other community groups to obtain this information and help people with chronic conditions share strategies about safe and appropriate use of medicines and talk about their information and support needs. The project will assist support groups and organisations to network with each other about QUM.

Through the project, CHF will encourage health consumer organisations to participate in project activities and build their capacity to improve quality use of medicines in their communities.

Project objectives

• maintain and extend engagement with health consumer networks about medicines at both a community and organisational level

• promote a strong, inclusive and participatory consumer approach to NPS programs, strategies and activities

• build evidence for consumer led models for strengthening community capacity for QUM

• strengthen and improve consumer representation and participation in key medicines conferences and committees, and other activities

• work in partnership with the Community QUM Program staff to support a strengths-based approach to community strategies and continue to build CHF organisational capacity on medicines issues

• proactively respond to emerging medicines issues for consumers and provide strategic advice to inform the environmental context for the work of the Community QUM Program.

Guidance

The Project Reference Group provides guidance on the Community QUM Project 2008-09 to the CHF Executive Director and Secretariat. Members of the group include consumer representatives from CHF membership and a consumer representative from the National Prescribing Service Community QUM Working Group.

Funding

This project is funded by the National Prescribing Service (NPS).  In response to consumer needs and expectations regarding the quality use of medicines, the Australian Government has funded the NPS to undertake the Community QUM Program in partnership with CHF and other consumer groups and organisations. The NPS Community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Program provides consumers with information about how to find independent, credible and reliable sources of information about medicines and emphasises the importance of consumers taking an active role in managing their health.