CHF Projects - CHF - Projects - Community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Project 2005-07

About the Project

The Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia (CHF) has advocated for many years for information about medicines that it is developed by and for health consumers. CHF has supported development of independent information sources about medicines for prescribers and dispensers, such as the National Prescribing Service (NPS). To complement this information, health consumers need their own sources of information about how to use medicines safely, wisely and appropriately.

In response to consumer needs and expectations regarding Quality Use of Medicine (QUM), the Australian Government has funded the NPS to undertake the Community Quality Use of Medicines Program, in partnership with CHF and other consumer groups and organisations.

The NPS Community QUM Program aims to provide 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.

Aim

The CHF 2005-07 Community QUM Project aims to support consumer engagement, participation, consultation and capacity building within the NPS Community QUM Program.

Objectives

The CHF Community QUM Project will:

• Provide strategic advice of consumer perspectives on QUM issues
• Involve and inform consumers on QUM issues
• Contribute through a partnership approach on QUM media and public relations
• Facilitate consumer feedback and pilot testing of consumer QUM resources
• Build capacity for communities to be involved in Community QUM activities
• Facilitate communication with relevant member organisations and other consumers for the Chronic Conditions Program
• Identify consumer issues for the Generic Medicines Program
• Contribute to evaluation on QUM initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

At the end of the 2005-07 Project, CHF expects to have:

• engaged and informed consumers in CHF networks about Community QUM initiatives
• consumer organisations to give input on strategies, program design and resources related to Community QUM
• built on existing relationships with communities, particularly in rural and remote areas, to connect them to Community QUM activities
• conducted a minimum of 10 Community Engagement Sessions on QUM across Australia with focus on people who live in rural and remote areas, or who live with chronic conditions or mental illness including integration of new topics of chronic conditions and generic medicines
• convened forums and planning sessions for consumer and community groups on the topics of chronic conditions and generic medicines
• developed relevant CHF position papers and principle statements
• provided support and liaison with consumer representatives on medicines related committees
• contributed to evaluation design and methodology and data collection related to Community QUM activities.

Guidance for the Project

A Steering Committee with five members provides timely advice and input on the CHF Community QUM Project to the CHF Project Manager and Governing Committee. Membership includes:

• CHF Governing Committee Member
• Consumer from the NPS Community QUM Program Management Committee
• Representative(s) from CHF membership with links to rural health consumers
• Representative(s) from CHF membership with quality use of medicines expertise

Funding

The CHF Community QUM Project is funded by the National Prescribing Service Limited. More information is available at www.nps.org.au

About Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)

QUM is one of the central objectives of Australia’s National Medicines Policy 2000. Further information is available from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Quality Use of Medicines means:

• Selecting management options wisely by:
  • considering the place of medicines in treating illness and maintaining health, and
  • recognising that there may be better ways than medicine to manage many disorders.
• Choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary so the best available option is selected.
• Using medicines safely and effectively to get the best possible result by:
  • monitoring outcomes,
  • minimising misuse, over-use and under-use, and
  • improving people’s ability to solve problems related to medication, such as negative effects or managing multiple medications.

The word medicine includes prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines.

For further information refer to the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines.