National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is calling for entries from consumers and community groups who have implemented Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) programs or activities 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.

In the Community QUM Category entries can be made for QUM programs or activity initiated and conducted by a consumer or group of consumers, a single or several community groups, with consumer/community participation and involvement at each stage of the program or activity over the past two years.

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.

Previous recipients of the QUM Awards Community Category are Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW for their ‘Medicine Information Person (MIP)’ project, and Fostering Partnerships in Health and Education Pty Ltd for their ‘Wrap around kids’ program.

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.