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Health promotion Health promotion
Check out our health promotions to help you, your family and friends manage your medicines and health.
The Be medicinewise health promotion campaign
We all take medicines but too often we take them for granted.
The NPS Be medicinewise health promotion campaign is focused on the need to think about the medicines you are taking and to ask questions from trusted sources of information, so that you are able to make better health decisions for yourself and the people you care for.
Being medicinewise involves:
- knowing what a medicine is
- finding the active ingredient
- asking the right questions of trusted information sources.
Managing pain
The second phase of Be medicinewise has focused on managing pain and the safe use of over-the-counter pain relief medicines.
The Managing pain health promotion campaign focuses on managing acute low back pain and promoting some simple ways it can be relieved, without the need for a scan. In addition, people with chronic conditions are encouraged to think wisely about the medicine they use to manage their pain.
Television, radio, online and print advertisements have been supported by editorial content with new information and resources.
The consumer brochure Why does it matter which pain reliever I choose? has been produced to help you make the best decisions about pain relief medicines and their associated risks and benefits.
Find out more about Managing pain.
Medicine brand choices
The latest phase of Be medicinewise launched in early April 2011 with a focus on medicine brand choices. Medicine brand choices aims to educate people about the difference between a brand name and the active ingredient in a medicine and where to find the active ingredient on the medicine pack or label.
This health promotion campaign has featured advertisements on television, in print and online and has been supported by a series of outdoor installations in bus stations across major capital cities.
Free resources are available in local pharmacies including the Why are we offered a choice of medicine? brochure explaining how and why you can make choices about your medicine brands and the NPS Medicines List, which helps you keep track of your medicines.
Colourful posters and displays have also prompted people to ask their pharmacist for further information about their medicine brand choices.
In-language versions of the Why are we offered a choice of medicine? consumer brochure and Medicines List are also available for order free of charge online in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Macedonian.
Read more about Medicine brand choices or watch our Medicinewise TV spots.Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics
Common colds are caused by viruses and usually get better on their own in 7 to 10 days. Antibiotics work on bacteria, not the viruses 
which cause common colds. Antibiotics won't help a cold get better faster or stop it from getting worse, and they won't stop a cold from spreading to others. The best treatment is to rest, treat the symptoms, and see your doctor or pharmacist if it gets worse.
See our current Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign.
Find out more about our 2008 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign and resources.
R U OK? Day
On 15 September 2011, R U OK? Day brought Australians together in a bid to reduce the risk factors contributing to suicide. The day promoted awareness and support by raising the profile of organisations that provide these services. The campaign encourages people to reach out to friends and loved ones and simply ask, 'R U OK?'
As a provider of independent, quality information about medicines, NPS is a unique supporter of R U OK? Day.
Find out more about R U OK? Day.
Date published: 2011-09-08 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
