Consumers' Health And Wellbeing Always Top Priority In Quality Use Of Medicines, NPS Reminds All, Australia

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 07 May 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Pharmacists are urged to keep consumers' health and wellbeing and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in the front of their minds while pharmacies adjust to the changes resulting from implementation of the PBS reform package.

CEO National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) Dr Lynn Weekes emphasises that "brand switching should occur only when it is safe and appropriate".

Only medicines that have been proven to be bioequivalent can substitute for one another. Dr Weekes reinforced best pharmacy practice, which is to offer the same brand when filling repeats. If a decision is made to use a particular brand of medicine, it is best practice to ensure that the same brand is offered each time that particular medicine is required.

"The decision to use a generic medicine should ideally be made when treatment begins. Consider the comparative cost of and patient preference for particular brands at the outset of treatment," Dr Weekes said.

The use of generic medicines must benefit the consumer without placing him or her at increased risk of medicine misadventure. For example, if a patient is likely to become confused because of a change in the appearance of a medicine or packaging, then switching brands may not be in that patient's best interests.

NPS asks health professionals to consult with consumers prior to switching a particular brand of medicine and to consider the patient's needs when prescribing medicines. Pharmacists and GPs are encouraged to help the patient become familiar with the active ingredient name. For consumers to safely use generics it is important to point out on the packaging the active ingredient name.

"It is important that consumers not only understand about bioequivalence but that they also understand that there are circumstances where switching brands is not safe or recommended," Dr Weekes said.

Bioequivalence has not been established for some medicines, so these cannot be switched. When a patient is stabilised on a particular brand of a critical dose medicine, avoid switching brands because the effects of potential medication errors after brand switching are likely to be more serious than with other medicines.

NPS recommends the Safe and Appropriate Use of Generic Medicines training module to help pharmacy assistants better understand generic medicines and their place in QUM. Pharmacy Assistants are often the first people consumers speak to about their medicines. This module recognises the important role they play in helping consumers makes choices about their medicines to use them appropriately and safely. Pharmacists can take the opportunity to discuss pharmacy policy with staff when using the module.

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

National Prescribing Service Limited