QUM Grant

NPS MedicineWise is the steward for quality use of medicines and medical tests (generally abbreviated as QUM) in Australia and delivers on the QUM objectives of Australia’s National Medicines Policy.

Ultimately, we seek to improve the health of Australians through the safe and wise use of medicines and health technologies by building the health literacy of Australians and improving use of medicines and other health technologies while contributing to the sustainability of our health system.

NPS MedicineWise is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program to improve the way medicines and medical tests are prescribed and used (QUM grant).

NPS MedicineWise contributes to the implementation of the National Medicines Policy and the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines (NSQUM), by:

• Fostering cross sector collaboration and partnerships in respect of the quality use of medicines and diagnostics
• Collecting data and providing information about the quality use of medicines and diagnostics; and
• Raising awareness and educating health professionals and consumers about the quality use of medicines and diagnostics.

Our work is grounded in the principles of the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines, which are:

• Primacy of the consumer
• Partnership
• Consultative, collaborative, multi-disciplinary activity
• Support for existing activity; and
• System-based approaches.

Through the Commonwealth QUM grant we improve quality use of therapeutics, diagnostics and pathology for Australian consumers and health professionals, facilitate free access to information to support appropriate use of therapeutics, diagnostics and pathology; and support the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system.

We strive to achieve the following:

• Improved use of health technologies to optimise the health outcomes for Australians, through independent, evidence-based information and education

• Improved health literacy of Australians, through education of health professionals and consumer groups
• Reduced misuse of medicines and other health technologies; and
• Improved sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

All activities under our QUM grant ultimately aim to improve the health of Australians through the safe and wise use of medicines and other health technologies.

Leveraging cross-sector collaboration and partnerships, our priorities include the following:

• Create and distribute independent and timely evidence-based information, tools and resources for prescribers, dispensers and health consumers
• Deliver quality use of medicines interventions targeting areas of high need and government priorities
• Promote behaviour changes amongst prescribers, dispensers and health consumers that are consistent with quality use of medicines and diagnostics in a sustainable health care system

• Improve post market utilisation and surveillance data
• Publish independent evidence-based peer reviewed publications such as Australian Prescriber that enable health care professionals to be across the development and appropriate use of new and emerging health technologies relevant to the Australian health care system.
• Act as the national QUM steward
• Improve health literacy
• Reduce misuse of medicines and other health technologies

• Improve post-market surveillance, including through MedicineInsight, by capturing, storing and analysing data collected from general practices and specialist practices to inform how medicines are being used in the real world. Data collected is to support quality improvement activities, inform research and policy health questions.

Read more about our Grant funded activities and programs for 2021-22