National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is calling for entries from individuals or groups, who have contributed to the principles of Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and have demonstrated best practice, to enter the 2006 National QUM Awards.

Celebrating excellence in QUM, these biennial awards recognise the originators of QUM work and the contribution of health professionals, the community, students, consumers, pharmaceutical companies, government, the health industry and the media to achieving better use of medicines.

This year the awards will be presented in six categories:

• Health Professional QUM Award

• Community QUM Award

• Health Industry QUM Award

• Media QUM Award

• Student QUM Award and

• NMS Poster Presentation Award.

The National QUM Awards will be presented at the National Medicines Symposium dinner at Parliament House Canberra on Thursday 8 June 2006.

QUM principles are:

• Selecting management options wisely

• Choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary

• Using medicines safely and effectively

Entry details are available at www.nps.org.au/events and close on 6 April 2006.

ENDS

National Prescribing Service Ltd provides independent, evidence-based information and services to health professionals and the community on Quality Use of Medicines. To achieve this we work in partnership with GPs, pharmacists, specialists, other health professionals, Government, pharmaceutical industry, consumer organisations and the community. NPS is an independent, non-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.