NPS was established in 1998 to provide general practitioners, other health professionals and consumers with evidence based information about medicines. It is a non-profit organisation independent of government and the pharmaceutical industry, with its own board including members who are general practitioners and specialists. Although it maintains independence from the government it is ultimately funded through Federal Government resources. The aim of the NPS is to improve health outcomes for all Australians by promoting current best practice management of specific therapeutic areas.
In early 2002 the division commenced receiving funding from the NPS to co-ordinate NPS services locally. The current divisional program is focused on providing GPs with unbiased information on therapeutics and promoting the adoption of best practice guidelines. Primarily this is achieved by giving every GP within the division the opportunity to participate in practice visits.
Ideally GPs are seen individually for 30 minutes in their practice at a convenient time. Each visit provides concise evidence based information on a specific therapeutic area that can be used in daily practice. Two topics are available for practice visits each year.
A NPS facilitator is employed by the division to provide educational visits and answer queries regarding NPS material or qualifying for PIP payments. Information is also disseminated to GPs and practices in response to current medical revelations of importance or which have attracted consumer interest.
To arrange an appointment with the NPS facilitator to discuss the current topic
Balancing benefits and harms of antipsychotic therapy please email Jane Spence.
For those practices registered for PIP, participation in NPS activities counts towards qualifying for Quality Prescribing Initiative (QPI) payments. To determine how many activities need to be completed annually, the first page of the quarterly practice PIP statement should be consulted. More information on QPI payments can be obtained from the NPS facilitator at the division or the HIC on 1800 222 032
The NPS also operates a Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS) which provides health professionals with immediate drug information advice over the phone. It operates every weekday between 9.00am and 7.00pm and can be contacted on: 1300 138 677
For more information please contact: Jane Spence on 9708 8019 or 0407 844 736 or via email or visit the NPS website.
Web Resources
 |
NPS |
|
RADAR |
|
HIC |