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Health promotion campaigns Health promotion campaigns
Check out our campaigns to help journalists and other media learn about our health promotion campaigns.
The Be medicinewise campaign
We all take medicines, but too often we take them for granted.
Being medicinewise will help you to get the most benefit from your medicines and make better health decisions for you and those you care for.
This NPS national campaign was launched in January 2011 and gave examples of what it means to be medicinewise, including specific messages about knowing what a medicine is, finding a medicine's active ingredient and asking the right questions of trusted information sources. So far, the Be medicinewise campaign has had wide media and editorial coverage.
For further details regarding this campaign, visit Be medicinewise on the web, watch our Medicinewise TV spots and order our consumer brochures.
Managing pain
This se
cond phase of the Be medicinewise campaign focused on managing pain and the safe use of over-the-counter pain relief medicines.
The Managing pain campaign focused 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 were encouraged to think wisely about the medicine they use to manage their pain. A range of resources are available, including:
- managing back pain symptomatic management pads for health professionals
- content and online videos for consumers
- prescription wallets
- online information on specific chronic conditions and print brochures.
Television, radio, online and print advertisements were supported by editorial content with new information and resources.
The consumer brochure was produced to help people 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 the NPS Be medicinewise campaign launched in early April 2011 with a focus on medicine brand choices. Medicine brand choices has aimed 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 mass media campaign featured advertisements on television, in print and online and was supported by a series of outdoor installations in bus stations across major capital cities. Resources for consumers are available in local pharmacies.
Colourful posters and displays 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 7–10 days. Antibiotics work on bacteria, not the viruses that 
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.
Date published: 2011-09-07 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.
