Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2013
Beyond the paper trail: using technology to reduce escalating harms from opioid prescribing in Australia.
The paper highlights the extent of pharmaceutical drug misuse problems in Australia and explores how pharmaceutical opioid misuse could be reduced by implementation of a technological tool: a prescription co-ordination program (PCP). The paper explores how enhancements to existing computer-assisted clinical decision support systems through real-time, on-line information to prescribers, pharmacists and regulators could address drug-seeking and improve the quality use of medicines. ⋯ Providing prescribers, pharmacists and regulators with on-line, real-time information about patients' prescription opioid use will improve the quality use of medicines. A national system is required to co-ordinate data on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and unsubsidised medicines, including private prescriptions. Pharmaceutical opioids are not the only medicines subject to misuse and therefore the need to capture data on other relevant medicines is also addressed.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2013
Prescribing databases can be used to monitor trends in opioid analgesic prescribing in Australia.
There has been increased use of prescription opioid analgesics in Australia in the past 20 years with increasing evidence of related problems. A number of data sources collect information about the dispensed prescribing for opioid medications, but little is known about the extent to which these data sources agree on levels of opioid prescribing. ⋯ Improved access to PBS data for relevant stakeholders could provide an efficient and cost-effective way to monitor use of prescription opioid analgesics.
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To review Australian contributions to global immunisation. ⋯ Australia is one of a few countries expanding their aid budgets towards 0.7% development assistance and other development commitments. Given the importance of immunisation to health gains, Australia is well placed to expand its investment in immunisation within its development portfolio. The GAVI Alliance is the best-established global mechanism to do this. Additionally, however, Australia could harness other national and regional mechanisms to support low and middle-income countries, thereby complementing GAVI's focus and global needs.