Optimal Use of Medicines
Note: All of the brochures and leaflets listed below can easily be ordered, for free, from 
PHARMAC Online Resources or by phoning PHARMAC on 0800 66 00 50.
One of PHARMAC's functions is to promote the responsible use of medicines. The current information campaigns PHARMAC is running for patients and health professionals are:
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Antibiotics - Wise Use of Antibiotics
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The Wise Use of Antibiotics campaign aims to raise awareness about appropriate use of antibiotics, especially during winter. Antibiotics are not a cure-all for winter colds and flu, and overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. There are a number of resources for the campaign and these can be ordered from
www.pharmaconline.co.nz or downloaded below.
Download copies of our leaflets and posters:
- If In Doubt, Check It Out (leaflet) (2 pages, 254 KB)
- The Bugs Are Catching On (leaflet) (2 pages, 249 KB)
- The Bugs Are Catching On (poster) (1 page, 297 KB)
Other brochures are available from
BPAC NZ
.
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One Heart Many Lives
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One Heart Many Lives is about Māori and Pacific Island men and their whanau. The programme’s main message is that one person’s heart disease affects many other lives. Men need to get their hearts checked and take action to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.
One Heart Many Lives is a campaign promoting appropriate use of medicines, and better lifestyle choices such as eating well, being more physically active or stopping smoking. Developed by PHARMAC, the campaign is run in partnership with District Health Boards. Further information about One Heart Many Lives can be found here
www.oneheartmanylives.co.nz
.
- He Rongoa Pai - He Oranga Whanau
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He Rongoā Pai – He Oranga Whānau is a programme for Māori community based health workers. It aims to improve knowledge and provide information to whānau about the safe and effective use of medicines. The course aims to:
- Increase awareness of safe and appropriate use of medications
- Improve 'access' to medicines
- Develop patient and whanau education recourses to be used by Maori community-based health workers (kaimahi)
- Promote medications as part of managing overall healthcare
For more information and to register for the course please click
here
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Space to Breathe
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The Space to Breathe - childhood asthma campaign was developed to promote appropriate use of inhaled corticosteroids and self-management education in order to improve health outcomes for children with asthma and address ethnic disparities in morbidity. The campaign provides education and best practice decision support to health practitioners and families of children with asthma.
For health practitioners, tools and resources have been developed to help support and educate families of children with asthma.
For families, there are a range of resources to help understand and manage asthma more easily.
Further information about the Space to Breathe campaign can be found here
www.spacetobreathe.co.nz
.
- Generic Medicines
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When a company first develops a medicine, it takes out a patent to make sure it is the only one who can produce and market the medicine. When the patent ends, other manufacturers can also make the medicine. When this happens the name, the appearance, and the packaging might change, but the core ingredients will be the same. These are called ‘generic medicines’.
PHARMAC sometimes changes the brand of medicine that is funded because of cost savings. The Generic Medicines campaign aims to help answer any questions people have about these changes. More information about generic medicines can be found
here
- Resources
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PHARMAC develops many resources for a number of health issues including diabetes, gout and asthma as well as medicine brand change information. Most of these resources are available free to order from the PHARMAC online resource ordering website,
www.pharmaconline.co.nz.
- Evaluations of Access and Optimal Use Activities
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Here are links to evaluations and reviews of some Access and Optimal Use campaigns. If you would like further information about these campaigns please make a request
here
.
- He Rongoa Pai, He Oranga Whanau - Staying Well with Medicines - Evaluation of current activities (1 page, 510 KB)
- One Heart Many Lives - Overview of the campaign (1 page, 888 KB)
- Space to Breathe - Childhood asthma campaign - Formative Evaluation (1 page, 1389 KB)
- Te Whaioranga - Maori Responsiveness Strategy - Overview (1 page, 277 KB) .
Page updated on 21 Jun 2010
Linked documents
Wise Use of Antibiotics Leaflet (2 pages, 254 KB)
About Antibiotics Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infection caused by bacteria. Doctors prescribe different antibiotics for different bacteria. Problem Solving Contact a GP or Pharmacist for advice if: • a rash, itching, swelling or breathing difficulties develop If you…
The Bugs are Catching On (2 pages, 249 KB)
Do I need to go to the Doctor? SEE A DOCTOR IF YOUR CHILD: Is not improving Is very irritable, grizzly or sleepy Breathes very fast Refuses food or drinks Has a fever Has sore ears Coughs a lot Has…
Wise Use of Antibiotics poster (1 page, 297 KB)
The best way to treat a cold or flu is with plenty of rest and fluids. Antibiotics won’t help with a viral winter cold and flu. If you’re not sure whether you have a viral or a bacterial infection, visit…
He Rongoa Pai evaluation poster (1 page, 510 KB)
Background National pharmaceutical data indicates: l l l Section Three: Consumer Resources Potential resources: Patient Medication card – bilingual?, Help desk / 0800line, DVD, Consumer information Website, Children’s Book, Interest group initiated information sessions, Links to Local Pharmacists Mäori have…
One Heart Many Lives overview (1 page, 888 KB)
Kotahi te manawa he maha ngä wairua ora One Heart Many Lives A Cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention programme. I just said to “‘ man, just getmyself up and do it. tamati Davis – tamati’s story AutHOrs Karen Jacobs, Marama…
Space to Breathe formative evalutation (1 page, 1389 KB)
Developing ‘Space to Breathe’ – a programme to promote quality use of medicines for Māori and Pacific children with asthma Elspeth Kay, Project Manager, Access and Optimal Use – Te Whaioranga, PHARMAC, New Zealand Medicines use and asthma morbidity in…
Te Whaioranga Maori Responsiveness Strategy overview (1 page, 277 KB)
New Zealand’s approach to addressing health inequalities for access to medicines. Te Whaioranga – PHARMAC Māori Responsiveness Strategy He aha ai – Why did PHARMAC develop this strategy The founding constitutional document of New Zealand - The Treaty of Waitangi…
