Australian move on new way to access information on medicines by patients welcomed by Medicines Australia and CHF

Australian patients will have better access to information about how prescription medicines should be used, following the publication of Consumer Medicine Information on the web site of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The federal government announced yesterday that the TGA has begun the process of posting on its website consumer information for all prescription medicines. The TGA will also publish Product Information, which provides doctors with technical information about the medicines they prescribe.

Pharmaceutical trade group Medicines Australia's acting chief executive, Brendan Shaw welcomed the initiative, saying it would bring significant benefit to patients and encourage more appropriate use of medicines.

It is important that patients understand how their medicines work and how they should be properly used because medicines used properly work best,' Dr Shaw said. 'This initiative makes it easier for patients to find reliable, accurate information about their prescription medicines. Consumer Medicine Information will continue to be available from pharmacists whenever a prescription medicine is dispensed. But patients will now also be able to find it easily online. Pharmaceutical manufacturers provide this information to consumers because they have a responsibility to ensure their medicines are used appropriately...This is an initiative which shows how Government and industry can work together to deliver a positive outcome for patients, he continued.'