9 June 2006

Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) is the winner of the Community QUM Award category for their No more ‘mualagh’ - Depression Medication Project at the National QUM Awards 2006 presented last night at a ceremony held at Parliament House, Canberra.

The National QUM Awards are an initiative of National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) and the Pharmaceutical Health And Rational Use of Medicines (PHARM) Committee in recognition of the achievements of a variety of projects, programs and activities within the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) sector.

The Depression Medication Project focuses on educating Afghani people living in rural Australia about depression, how it is treated and the safe use of medicine. The award was accepted by Meg Griffiths of MMHA.

A range of materials were developed including English and Dari fact sheets, a fact sheet for health professionals and community service announcements. Mualagh is a Dari word meaning ‘floating in sad uncertainty’.

Highly Commended went to the Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation for their Safer Use of Medicines – Engaging Consumers project and was accepted by Jill McDonald. This project developed a process of delivery of medicines to remote communities in Australia.

QUM is one of the central objectives of Australia's National Medicines Policy. QUM means selecting management options wisely, choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary; and using medicines safely and effectively.

The definition of QUM applies equally to decisions about medicine use by individuals and decisions that affect the health of the population.

“These biennial awards recognise the achievements of stakeholders in integrating QUM principles in their everyday activities,’ Dr Lynn Weekes, CEO of NPS, said.

‘The high quality of submissions gave the judging panel quite a challenge,’ she said.

The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the National Medicines Symposium 2006 which concludes today.

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National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines. We provide accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to help people choose if, when and how to use medicines to improve their health and wellbeing. We are member-based and work in partnership with health professionals, government, pharmaceutical industry and consumers. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.