Pills, potions, remedies and other interesting concoctions!

Okay, just how do we know what we are swallowing, sniffing, injecting, absorbing through our skin?


For accurate and balanced evidence-based information about medicines, the National Prescribing Services Limited (NPS) site provides what you may need to know about the Quality Use of Medications you or someone you know is taking. The NPS provides this site for use by health professionals and also consumers. The organization is an independent, non-profit member-based group, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. General practitioners, pharmacists, specialist practitioners, other health professionals, Government, pharmaceutical companies, consumer organizations and the community are all target groups the NPS strives to work with.

The links in this paragraph take you to three content pages on the NPS site. Firstly, this link leads you to evidence based information on prescribing drugs, educational activities such as case studies, clinical audits, pharmacy practice audits, and more. Secondly, this link takes you to consumer related materials and activities on medicines designed specifically for individual people. This link also provides a catalogue of free consumer materials which you are able to order online and thirdly, you are linked to the NPS corporate and media page. Here you will find media releases covering information on public affairs, marketer events, campaigns, member organizations or simply navigate through resources for media.

Meanwhile, if you have a need to talk to someone about medications, the Australian contact number for the NPS Consumers Medicines Line is 1300 888 763. If you are a health professional the NPS Therapeutic and Information Service (TAIS) contact number is 1300 138 677.

Do you live outside Australia? You may be able to locate a similar service in your country of origin.

The NPS in Australia provides a wealth of information in addition to that offered above. Wherever you live, I hope these links are helpful to you. You will find other interesting links throughout this article.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.