NZ plans online medicine information resource

New Zealand Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne recently announced the establishment of a country-specific, up-to-date, and comprehensive medicine information resource for health professionals- the New Zealand Medicines Formulary (NZMF).

The formulary, to be rolled out across the sector within 12 months, will provide concise, independent, evidence-based medicines information and guidance on best practice, and will be available in all service areas.

According to Dunne, “It will be a true one-stop-shop covering clinical information as well classification and subsidy status. Whether prescribing, dispensing or administering a medicine, the New Zealand Medicines Formulary will be the first reference resource for health professionals.”

The NZMF will be continuously updated, accessible online and on portable devices, and over time, will be fully integrated with the e-health environment including prescribing and dispensing software for better and more consistent decision-making about how medicines are used to benefit New Zealand’s patients.

The NZMF Project Steering Group has selected a partnership between the Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Best Practice Advocacy Centre Inc., and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain as the preferred supplier.

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