Community medication management

A new publication, Guiding principles for medication management in the community, should help improve the safe and effective use of medicines by the community.

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, and the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, have described the new work, developed by the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council with support from the Commonwealth Government, as an important reference for the management of medicines for people on complex medication regimes in their own homes.

“This document can assist everyone in the medication management cycle,” Mr Abbott said.

Senator Santoro said the guidelines would be of particular benefit to older Australians, given their more complex health needs.

“Older people tend to be the greatest users of medicines, and with the number of older people in Australia growing, this advice will become increasingly useful and important,” Senator Santoro said.

The Guiding principles recognise that partnerships are important when support is being provided to consumers at home. Such partnerships involve a variety of health and community care providers.

An electronic version of the new principles is available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/nmp-publications-apac.htm

Hard copies of the booklet can be ordered from the website or by calling (02) 6289 7753.