When is it on

The following  provides background information to the Enhanced Divisional Quality Use of Medicines (EDQUM) program, which was co-ordinated by the Australian General Practice Network in consultation with the  Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and other stakeholders.

Who Should Register

Quality Use of Medicines   

Programs
• Medicines play an important role in improving the health and well-being of many Australians.
• The Divisions Network strongly supports the National Medicines Policy Mediawhich calls for:
  • Timely access to medicines
  • Standards of quality, safety and efficacy Events
  • Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)
  • A Responsible and viable medicines industry
• International research supports the use of QUM initiatives to improve quality prescribing, resulting in better health outcomes, a reduction in unnecessary hospitalisations and increased patient quality of life. Contact AGPN
• There is already a considerable amount of QUM activity within Australia provided through Divisions delivering programs developed by the National Prescribing Service (NPS) , an independent organisation.

Help
• The focus of EDQUM is solely on increasing quality prescribing. 

• Participating Divisions receive no up-front funding for EDQUM activities, but if EDQUM also results in reduced Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) costs, Divisions will receive a proportion of the saved funds in order to provide additional primary health care services to the communities in that Division. Hot Issues

 
• The Commonwealth has agreed to accept any increased costs in the PBS that result from EDQUM activities.

• EDQUM will provide two benefits to the community: enhanced quality prescribing by GPs and additional funds (where available) via Divisions for community-based health programs.

The EDQUM program has been developed in consultation between the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the Australian General Practice Network and other stakeholders.  

AGPN acknowledges the financial support of the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing

AGPN acknowledges the financial support of the