Posted by Michael Wonder on 22 Jul 2019
Australia's National Medicines Policy is outdated and in need of review
22 July 2019 - How will issues such as disruptive innovation, precision medicine and climate change affect Australia's medicines policy going forward?
Australia's National Medicines Policy (NMP) was developed cooperatively between the government, the pharmaceutical industry, health care professionals and consumers. The NMP seeks to provide overarching policy direction around four interlinked pillars: timely access to the medicines that Australians need and at an affordable cost; medicines meeting appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy; quality use of medicines; and maintaining a responsible and viable medicines industry.
The policy was finalised in 1999 and was an effective framework for the interaction of the major players in Australia's health system with respect to the quality use of medicines in Australia.
