20 April 2009

The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) has welcomed recommendations in the latest Professional Services Review (PSR) report for prescribers to refer to evidence-based sources of information when making decisions about medicines.

The PSR Scheme was established by Medicare Australia and provides a peer review mechanism to deal with possible inappropriate practices in relation to the Medicare benefits and pharmaceutical benefits programs. In 2007-08 the PSR was asked to investigate 50 cases of possible inappropriate practices.

A common feature in referrals to the PSR was apparent inappropriate prescribing, mostly relating to the prescribing of narcotic analgesics and benzodiazepines, which PSR Director, Dr Tony Webber has labeled ‘concerning’. In the report, Dr Webber reminds practitioners that ‘there are many readily available sources of information that detail evidence-based prescribing information’, and ‘practitioners should not base their prescribing decisions solely on the recommendations of drug company representatives’.

Funded by the Department of Health and Ageing, NPS is an independent organisation that provides evidence-based information, services and activities to help support prescribing decisions.

“NPS has no commercial interests so health professionals can be confident our information is independent, accurate and balanced,” NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said.

“Our evidence-based information is drawn from world-class sources, making NPS a unique but highly valued service in the Australian health sector.”

Since its inception in 1998, the breadth and reach of NPS educational activities for health professionals has grown significantly, while participation by GPs, pharmacists and nurses has increased year-on-year.

NPS offers a range of activities for health professionals to review their prescribing practices against best practice and optimal use guidelines. This includes self audits and drug use evaluations available in hard copy and electronic formats. Some provide instant feedback and all are easy to use.

“Participating in NPS activities can help prescribers identify how they compare against best practice standards. Self audits can highlight if there are discrepancies and the feedback includes behavior change solutions. Participation in our activities could ultimately prevent a prescriber being investigated by the PSR,” Dr Weekes said.

NPS is currently running activities for health professionals on topics including:

• Anti-platelet and anticoagulant therapy in stroke prevention
• Proton pump inhibitors
• Treating the symptoms of dementia
• Early use of insulin and oral anti-diabetic drugs

NPS will offer activities around antibiotic use in respiratory infection from June 2009 and Benzodiazepines and hypnotics from February 2010.

ENDS