Links

Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (Safety and Quality Commission)
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/internet/safety/publishing.nsf/Content/home

The Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care was established in January 2000 by Australian Health Ministers to lead national efforts to improve the safety and quality of health care provision in Australia.

The web site contains information about the activities of the council including funding opportunities; the Adverse Medicine Events Line; high risk medication alerts; newsletters and media releases.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
http://www.aihw.gov.au

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare ( AIHW ) is Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information.

The web site is a source of health and welfare statistics and information. An increasing number of AIHW publications can be accessed through the web site.

top of page

Australian Patient Safety Foundation (APSF)
http://www.apsf.net.au

The Australian Patient Safety Foundation Inc. (APSF) is a non-profit independent organisation dedicated to the advancement of patient safety. The APSF provides leadership in the reduction of harm to patients in all health care environments.

Through its subsidiary Patient Safety International (PSI) , the APSF provides a software tool, the Advanced Incident Management System (AIMS®) to capture information from a wide variety of sources to enable “de-construction” and classification of incidents from “near misses” to “sentinel events” in a consistent way, so that subsequent, detailed analysis is possible.

Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC)
http://www.nmp.health.gov.au/advisory/apac.htm

The Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC) was created in 1991 as a consultative forum to advise the Commonwealth Government on a wide range of pharmaceutical policy issues. The Council includes representatives of peak professions (pharmacy, medical and nursing), pharmaceutical industry, consumer and media organisations, as well as government members with an interest in implementing Australia's National Medicines Policy.

Australian Prescriber
http://www.australianprescriber.com/

Australian Prescriber is an independent journal providing reviews of therapeutics. It aims to provide short direct and didactic reviews on a range of topics that will assist the readers in their professional duties. Australian Prescriber accepts no advertising. The funding for Australian Prescriber comes from the budget allocated to the National Prescribing Service by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

The web site includes online access to current and past issues of the journal.

top of page

Australian Register of Imported Drugs (ARID)

The Australian Register of Imported Drugs is a list of pharmaceuticals imported by pharmacy departments in Australian hospitals. ARID is a service of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia and is coordinated by the Committee of Specialty Practice in Drug Information. It aims to reduce duplication of effort by pharmacists in sourcing and importing drugs from other countries. This service is only available to pharmacists and medical practitioners.

Information in the database is provided by hospital pharmacists who have imported pharmaceuticals for use in Australia under the Special Access Scheme for non-registered drugs. ARID is a voluntary scheme and is not a comprehensive list of imported pharmaceuticals, it does not cover products imported for personal use or for use in clinical trials. Information is collated at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre and is shared with other drug information services via the Australian National Drug Information Network. For further information or specific enquiries contact druginfo@austin.org.au

Australian Resource Centre for Hospital Innovations
http://www.archi.net.au

The Australian Resource Centre for Healthcare Innovations (ARCHI) is auspiced by the Hunter New England Area Health Service. The ARCHI mission is to support and increase the implementation of effective and quality innovations in clinical care in the Australian healthcare sector. Through its website, newsletter, discussion groups, enquiry service and seminars, ARCHI helps to promote information sharing while preventing duplication of effort.

Centre for Clinical Effectiveness
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/healthservices/cce/

The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, located at Monash Medical Centre, is part of the Monash Institute of Health Services Research. The Centre is funded by the Southern Health and the Victorian Department of Human Services (Acute Health Division). Its aim is to enhance patient outcomes through the clinical application of the best available evidence.

The web site includes reports of completed evidence requests, links to enable a search for evidence and evidence based medicine learning resources.

top of page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an agency of the American Department of Health and Human Services.

The web site includes information on travellers' health including vaccination recommendations and details of disease outbreaks, an extensive range of health topics and access to scientific, surveillance and health data and statistics.

Clinicians Health Channel
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/clinicians

The Clinicians Health Channel has a wide range of links to sources of information that are relevant and useful for practicing clinicians including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

A popular feature is the electronic health library which provides access to the medical literature including a range of citation databases, full text journals, drug and prescribing information. To gain access, users must be associated with hospitals funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services.

Clinical Information Access Project (CIAP)
http://www.clininfo.health.nsw.gov.au/

The web site is provided for nurses, doctors, allied health and community health professionals of the NSW Health public health system. It aims to support evidenced-based practice at the point of care.

The web site includes free access to policies, reports and clinical practice guidelines. A password is required to access the databases such as MIMS, Harrison's, Medline, etc.

top of page

Communicable Diseases Australia (including Communicable Diseases Intelligence)
http://www.cda.gov.au/index.htm

Communicable Diseases Australia is the Surveillance Section of the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing.

The web site includes surveillance reports of notifiable and communicable diseases and details of outbreaks within Australia. There is also access to the publication Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI).

Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au

The Department of Human Services (DHS) was formed in April 1996 by the amalgamation of the former Department of Health and Community Services with the Office of Housing and the Office of Youth Affairs. The Department of Human Services is committed to ensuring that all Victorians have access to quality services that protect and enhance the community's physical, mental and social well-being.

top of page

Victorian Government Health Information www.health.vic.gov.au
http://www.health.vic.gov.au

This is the key health information web site of the Department of Human Services, Victoria. It links to all the Victorian Government health related web sites.

The What's New section provides links to the latest programs and projects. Included in this listing is the web site for Pharmaceutical Reform in Victorian Public Hospitals which details the introduction of the Commonwealth's Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) to Victorian public hospitals with information for both consumers and clinicians.

Within the Department of Human Services there are two divisions responsible for health and aged care services within the state of Victoria:

Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/ahs/index.htm

Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division is responsible for the full range of health and aged care services in metropolitan Melbourne.

Program branches within Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services provide operational support for both the Metropolitan and Rural & Regional Divisions in meeting each Division's geographical responsibilities. Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services has state wide policy and program direction responsibility for specific program areas: acute, sub-acute, ambulance and mental health services.

The web site includes links to all the programs under the division and includes access to the Hospital Circulars.

There is also a link to the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program web site which details the program objectives and background as well procedural requirements.

top of page

Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services Division
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/rrhacs

The Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services Division is responsible for the full range of health and aged care services in rural and regional Victoria.

Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services has State wide policy and program direction responsibility for: aged and home care, primary health, dental health and public health & drugs.

This web site includes links to all the programs under the division including the
Department of Human Services Public Health Information . The Public Health web site provides information about the many government public health programs including environmental health, disease control and surveillance, food safety, drug abuse and the regulation of drugs and poisons. Of particular note are the health alerts and a listing of the location of needle exchange programs. Also available online are information, reports, policies and guidelines on a range of topics. Although much of the information is directed to health care professionals there is also a significant amount of information for consumers.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au

The NHMRC is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care. The NHMRC consolidates within a single national organisation the often independent functions of research funding and development of advice. The Council comprises nominees of Commonwealth, State and Territory health authorities, professional and scientific colleges and associations, unions, universities, business, consumer groups, welfare organisations, conservation groups and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

The web site includes access to a number of NHMRC publications including a range of clinical practice guidelines.

top of page

National Medicines Policy (NMP)
http://www.nmp.health.gov.au/index.htm

The National Medicines Policy (NMP) aims to improve positive health outcomes for all Australians through their access to and wise use of medicine. The National Medicines Policy is a well established endorsed framework based on partnerships, which was launched in December 1999. Governments - Commonwealth, States and Territories - health educators, health practitioners and other healthcare providers and suppliers, the medicines industry, healthcare consumers, and the media work together to promote the objectives of the policy.

National Prescribing Service (NPS)
http://www.nps.org.au

The NPS is a non-profit organisation independent of government and the pharmaceutical industry. Funding is provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The mission of the NPS is to create an awareness, culture and environment that will support Quality Use of Medicines among all stakeholders.

The web site includes evidenced based information about medicines for health professionals and the community.

NPS RADAR (Rational Assessment of Drugs and Research)
http://www.npsradar.org.au

RADAR is an online service from NPS which provides information about new medicines and changes to PBS listings and commentaries on new clinical research. RADAR is published quarterly near the time of each new edition of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (Yellow Book). Registration is required to receive the free quarterly updates by email.

top of page

NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group (NSW TAG)
http://www.nswtag.org.au

NSW TAG is an independent, not-for-profit group of clinical pharmacologists, pharmacists and clinicians committed to the promotion of quality drug use in hospitals and the wider community.

The web site includes access to a range of resources including guidelines and consensus documents on drug therapy. Some areas of the web site are restricted to registered TAG members.

Orphan Australia
http://www.orphan.com.au

Orphan Australia specialises in the development, marketing and distribution of products used to treat serious and/or life threatening disorders, where current drug therapy is either unavailable or inadequate. The company is networked to international pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

The web site includes product lists for both approved products and those under development which can be accessed through the Special Access Scheme.

Pharmaceutical Health and Rational use of Medicines (PHARM) Committee
http://www.nmp.health.gov.au/advisory/pharm.htm

The PHARM Committee is a multidisciplinary committee that provides expert advice to the Minister for Health and Ageing on the Quality Use of Medicines strategy. The QUM strategy is based on a partnership approach between consumers, health professionals, industry and government. The PHARM Committee promotes and reviews QUM strategy in Australia and oversees its implementation.

top of page

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
http://www.tga.gov.au

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is a Division of the Australian Governmentl Department of Health and Ageing and is responsible for administering the provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act. The TGA evaluates new therapeutic products, prepares standards, develops test methods, conducts testing programs and liaises with industry to ensure that the products used in Australia are of good quality, safe and effective.

The web site includes information about the TGA's major programs in prescription and non-prescription medicines, complementary medicines, chemicals and medical devices. The web site also contains information for consumers and school students. Many of the TGA publications are available online. Other useful information includes access to the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC) and the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin, a list of recalls and alerts, the list of designated orphan drugs and guidelines for bringing medicinal products into Australia. Links to an online reporting form to report problems including adverse drug reactions is also available from the TGA home page. Reports on adverse drug reactions can be obtained by contacting adrac@health.gov.au

top of page

Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd.
http://www.tg.com.au/

Therapeutic Guidelines is an independent, not for profit organisation dedicated to deriving guidelines for therapy from the latest world literature, interpreted and distilled by Australia's most eminent and respected experts.

The web site includes information about the Therapeutic Guidelines publications, demonstrations of the electronic versions of the Therapeutic Guidelines books, ordering facilities and a range of QUM links.

Western Australian Therapeutic Advisory Group (WATAG)
http://www.watag.org.au

Responsible for the quality use of medicines within health care institutions in Western Australia. Includes a drugs and therapeutics committee, a psychotropic drugs sub-committee, a drug evaluation panel and a medication safety group.

World Health Organisation (WHO)
http://www.who.int/

The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The web site includes access to information on health topics, WHO reports, statistics, policies and publications. The latest edition of the publication "International Travel and Health: Vaccination Requirements and Health Advice" is available online at http://www.who.int/ith/index.html .