title: A perspective on Australia's National Medicines Policy.
abstract: There is international interest in Australia's health care system for prescription medicines. The issue is particularly topical in Canada with the debate following publication of the Romanow Report into the future of health care in Canada. This Report recommended a new National Drug Agency. Australia has a National Medicines Policy with four arms-quality, safety and efficacy of medicines; equity of access; a viable and responsible pharmaceutical industry; quality use of medicines. The four arms of the Policy are interlinked and interdependent for optimal functioning. In this paper, an overview of how the prescription drug system in Australia works is presented. The manuscript focuses upon specific aspects of the Policy, describing how it functions and some of the processes integral to success, from the viewpoint of the author. The discussion includes some of the advantages of Australia's system for pharmaceuticals as well as some of the problems, as these present opportunities for development and change.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Tett
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards