Reports & evaluation
Annual reports
The NPS MedicineWise Annual Report is a showcase of our work over each financial year. It provides an overview of our key activities and initiatives, reports on our performance, and includes our annual financial statements.
The NPS MedicineWise annual report is prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001.
Consumer report
In 2017, NPS MedicineWise collaborated with the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) on a research project looking at consumers’ attitudes to use of their health data. The final report was generated through qualitative interviews, literature reviews, a round table discussion with key stakeholders and consumer representatives, and a nationally representative survey of 1,013 Australians.
The final report, Engaging consumers in their health data journey, is now available here.
These research findings provide key insights about consumers' attitudes to use of their health data and their preferences about consent.
If you have any comments or questions about this report, please email [email protected].
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Evaluation reports
As NPS MedicineWise continues to develop new areas of interest and strength, educating people to make the best decisions about medicines and medical tests, we continue to demonstrate the impact of our programs on prescribers of medicines.
The 22nd Annual Evaluation Report summarises the results from evaluations conducted in 2018–19. Highlights include:
- $69.93 million – reported savings for the PBS, a result of the impact of seven programs, including work to reduce antibiotic resistance and opioid use.
- $21.57 million – reported savings for the MBS achieved via significant reductions in CT scans and ultrasound services of the abdominal region by GPs.
- Choosing Wisely Australia – improved reach of the program and reflection of Choosing Wisely recommendations in MBS review taskforce recommendations.
NPS MedicineWise Evaluation report Statins: Optimising therapy addressing intolerance 2017
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Reducing Antibiotic Resistance 2012-17
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Imaging for acute lower back pain 2016
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Balancing benefits and harms of antipsychotic therapy 2015
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Chronic pain report: Opioids and beyond 2015
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Proton pump inhibitors: Too much of a good thing 2015
Date published : 30 June 2020
NPS MedicineWise Economic evaluation report Exploring inhaled medicines use and asthma control 2014
Date published : 30 June 2020
General Practice Insights Report
For the past five years, the General Practice Insights Reports (commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care) have provided an overview of the care provided in general practice.
The 2022 report provides further information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on general practice – including the ongoing lockdowns, the ongoing strong uptake of telehealth consultations and the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. The report is based on around 2.5 million patients’ de-identified data in 2020–21 from the MedicineInsight program.
We hope that these documents provide patients, GPs, policy makers and researchers with an accurate picture of the enormous amount of work undertaken in primary care.
MedicineInsight reports
MedicineInsight is a quality improvement program developed to improve clinical practice and health outcomes in Australia. MedicineInsight allows GPs to reflect on their own patterns of prescribing and patient care. Insights drawn from the aggregated clinical data of all participating general practices can also be used by policymakers, health systems and health professionals. The reports reproduced below have been commissioned by the Australian Department of Health.
A snapshot of anticholinergic and sedative medicine burden in MedicineInsight patients
Date published : 25 November 2022
Characteristics of primary care patients recorded as having rheumatoid arthritis using MedicineInsight general practice data
Date published : 1 November 2022
The impact of COVID_19 on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin prescribing patters in general practice
Date published : 17 May 2022
Epidemiology of mental health conditions and antidepressant use in people aged less than 25 years attending general practice
Date published : 3 December 2021
Validation of the MedicineInsight database: completeness, generalisability and plausibility
Date published : 14 December 2021
GP requested tests for patients with chronic conditions or during pregnancy
Date published : 9 July 2021
MedicineInsight Vaccine Surveillance Report Herpes Zoster – Phase 2
Date published : 22 October 2020
MedicineInsight Disease Surveillance Herpes Zoster Phase 2017 Report
Date published : 24 August 2020
Publications
Since 1998, scientific publications have been developed by NPS MedicineWise staff or funded or supported by NPS MedicineWise.
QUM Program Briefings
QUM program briefings provide key insights from NPS MedicineWise therapeutic programs. They highlight the scale of the issue, describe clinical practice challenges and barriers, and recognise existing programs and activities currently addressing the problem. The briefings are designed to build momentum for shared action - to improve health outcomes in therapeutic areas identified as having QUM issues.
The briefings also recognise the significant contribution stakeholders make to the development of NPS MedicineWise therapeutic programs. Beyond the programs, the briefings also outline further interventions and actions that can be undertaken to meet the goal of achieving better health care and outcomes.
Plain language summary – Reducing anticholinergic burden: Framework for action
Date published : 16 February 2022