9 June 2006

A collaboration of research-based pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly Australia, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Sharp & Dohme, The Pharmaceutical Alliance, has won the Health Industry QUM Award category. The award was presented last night at an awards 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 Pharmaceutical Alliance won the award for the Views of Quality Use of Medicines Project, a national study into the Australian Medicine Community’s perceptions of their needs, values and responsibilities, as well as the opportunities and barriers, for quality use of medicines 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.

ENDS