Campaign to reduce medicine related problems

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has launched its national medicines awareness campaign titled: ‘Get to Know Your Medicines’.

The campaign aims to increase consumer awareness and understanding about the medicines they are taking in order to minimise the possibilities of side effects and interactions.

Every year in Australia almost 200 million prescriptions are dispensed representing 10 medications per person.

Seventy percent of Australians take at least one prescription and using medicines is more common among older people, with 86% of people 65 years and over using medicines.

Multiple use of medicines is more common in people aged 85 years and over.

More than 140,000 people are hospitalised every year as a result of medication-related problems with evidence showing that between 50-75% of these are preventable.

The campaign is supported by a television advertisement advising viewers to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or call Medicines Line.

Details of the campaign, including the television commercials and an extensive array of resources available to order, may be found at http://www.nps.org.au/site.php?page=2&content=/resources/NAC/media.html