NPS launches its new look
July 1, 2010
TODAY marks the end of an era
as the National Prescribing Service
officially changes its name to ‘NPS
- better choices, better health’ and
shifts its focus beyond solely
prescription medicines to address
all medicines and the “quality use
of medical tests”.
“The National Prescribing Service
is no longer a broad enough
descriptor for what we do,” said
NPS ceo, Karen Kaye.
With the objective of becoming a
household name by 2018, the NPS’
new mandate also aims to see every
Australian become “medicinewise”.
“This fresh new look, and
consistent branding across all our
products and services will help us
get there,” she added.
The kick-off of the new financial
year has also seen an evolution of
the NPS’ phone services with the
commencement of its collaboration
with the National Healthcare Call
Centre Network for its consumer
phone info service, ‘Medicines Line’.
The new management structure
means that the Medicine Line’s
number has changed to 1300 633
424, and all medicines related calls
will now be answered initially by a
Healthdirect Australia nurse and
triaged under new protocols, with
more complex calls to be referred
to the caller’s own doctor or
community pharmacist.
The NPS will also operate its
own in-house pharmacist phone
service with the capacity to answer
10,000 calls per annum, referred
by Healthcare Australia.
“This new delivery model offers
consumers greater access to
information about their medicines,
and by offering the NPS in-house
service we will ensure consumers
continue to have access to a service
that can answer more complex
questions,” Kaye said.
“Importantly, it will also allow us
to capture data about medicines
issues to better inform our quality
use of medicines programs.”
The NPS has however reassured
the industry by saying it will not be
making any changes to its current
Adverse Medicines line.
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