Dr Mike Freelander MP

For #MedsAware 2024, Mike Freelander MP, Federal Member for Macarthur (NSW) and Chair of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, discusses the importance of our deprescribing message.

'I fully support MedsAware Week where we think about the medications we're taking and whether it's time to change our prescribing habits and try and change the way that people are taking their medication. And I really congratulate our pharmacists for doing this for our community.'

'It's a great service to the community and very important that we reconsider our medications every year.'

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

For #MedsAware 2024, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston (SA), Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, encourages us to think about the medicines we're taking.

'I'd encourage everybody: have a chat to your family and friends and have a think about whether the medicines that you're taking are the right medicines being taken at the right time for the right condition.'

'And most importantly, seek the advice of your medical professionals, whether that be your GP or your pharmacist, to make sure that your meds are right for you today.'

Senator Hollie Hughes

For #MedsAware , Senator Hollie Hughes (NSW), Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, speaks on medicines-related harm, psycotropic medicines and the importance of deprescribing.

'250,000 Australians are admitted to hospital each year due to medicated-related issues, many of which are preventable, medicines-related harm. We need to break this cycle.'

'If you have any questions about the medicines you or your family are taking, I encourage you to ask your pharmacist, GP or healthcare professional. Ask because you care.'

‘Deprescribing is in the DNA of AdPha, Australia’s pharmacy organisation for team-based, specialty pharmacist care.

‘The world’s first published use of “deprescribing” was in our flagship Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR) 20 years ago, in ‘Deprescribing: Achieving Better Health Outcomes for Older People through Reducing Medications’.

‘As medicines experts, pharmacists are best placed to detect and prevent inappropriate use of high-risk medicines, including antipsychotics, that are widespread in residential aged care facilities.

'MedsAware Week seeks to empower Australians and their carers, family and friends, together with pharmacists, doctors and other care team members, to optimise every medicines regimen to ensure it is current, effective and safe.

‘We’re proud to lead the MedsAware message and work with our partners to embed deprescribing as a central principle of safe health care, to reduce polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy and ensure more Australians stay out of hospital.’

— Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) President, Tom Simpson

ADeN Acting Chair Dr Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell says as people age, their priorities and life values change, and their medicine regimen should reflect their goals of care. 

‘Medicines that were once beneficial, but no longer appropriate or interferes with a person’s current goals of care, may need to be deprescribed.

‘Deprescribing can reduce medicine-related harms, and the burden to individuals, to optimise outcomes for Australians.’ Picture of Lisa attached.

—  ADeN Acting Chair, Dr Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell

An important aspect of medication safety is ensuring that patients do not continue to take medicines after they’re no longer required and that the benefits of taking any medicine outweighs the risks. This is a fundamental role of pharmacists as the experts in medicines. FIP fully supports the AdPha MedsAware campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of appropriate deprescribing, particularly in cases of polypharmacy. As our older populations grow, this facet of pharmaceutical care will become even more significant. FIP has developed a number of resources to empower the profession with skills in medication review.

— FIP CEO, Dr Catherine Duggan

‘Upholding the quality use of medicines is the responsibility of all doctors. Our most vulnerable patients, including those with a disability and older Australians are at risk if regular reviews of their medicines aren’t undertaken by those responsible for their care.’

— AMA President, Professor Steve Robson

COTA Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Sparrow, says a national focus on deprescribing which centres the needs of patients is important. 

It's crucial that older Australians are supported to have conversations about reviewing, reducing or discontinuing their medicines. 

This isn't about stopping medication, it's about encouraging conversations and making sure older people are getting the right medications they need to live life the way they want and deserve to. 

We need a system that places patients at the centre of the conversation through safer, shared decision making and sees patients, pharmacists, doctors and nurses all working together in the best interests of the patient.

— COTA Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Sparrow

Research suggests that one-quarter of people on multiple medicines have adverse effects directly attributable to the additive effects of those medicines.¹  To ensure quality use of medicines is maintained, it is important to have embedded a structured, medicines stewardship-based approach to medicine review and deprescribing.  This approach should be collaborative, actively involving the patient in the decision making process with an aim to optimise treatment and minimise potential risks. 

In recognition of the importance of deprescribing, CATAG is part of the Medicines Advice Initiative Australia(MAIA) consortium. MAIA provides high quality, data-driven educational materials for health professionals, to aid them in solving pressing current issues around medicine use. CATAG will soon be releasing a practice tool and teaching tool to help address the hidden risk of cumulative medicines and encourage appropriate deprescribing as an active constituent of hospital care.

—  CATAG Chair, Anita Shutt

Dr Nicole Higgins, says it is a complex area of medicine that required careful management.

‘The goal of deprescribing is to improve a person's quality of life by reducing the amounts and types of medicines to reduce the risks of complications such as falls and cognitive impairment,’ she says.

‘There are many other strategies that we have to assist people with behavioural challenges before we reach for the prescription pad. This is a complex area and there is no single solution.’

—  RACGP President, Dr Nicole Higgins