NMS 2023 - Session 2: Medicines and appropriate care in practice

What can be done to drive more appropriate care in practice?
Australia’s health care system contributes close to 7% of our national carbon emissions, with pharmaceuticals accounting for almost 20% of that carbon footprint. As we face the unprecedented challenge of climate change, it is also estimated that about 30% of health care is wasteful or low value, and a further 10% is harmful.
Reducing low value care including overdiagnosis, over testing and inappropriate prescribing has the potential to vastly reduce carbon emissions and improve health outcomes for patients and the efficiency and environmental sustainability of the health system.
In this session you will hear about the size of the problem of inappropriate use of medicines and low value care, benefits of good medicines stewardship and practical approaches to achieving appropriate care in practice and better health and environmental outcomes for all.
This webcast is relevant for health professionals (GP’s, Pharmacists Nurses), consumers, health policy, decision makers, managers.
Hosted by Ms Tegan Taylor, ABC journalist and broadcaster with keynote speakers that include:
Professor Paul Glasziou, Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine, Bond University
Associate Professor Liz Marles, Clinical Director, ACSQHC and General Practitioner, Hornsby-Brooklyn GP Unit
Dr Kate Charlesworth, Medical Director, Climate Risk and Net Zero Unit, NSW Ministry of Health
Professor Alexandra Barratt, Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney
Mr Tim Perry, Consultant Pharmacist
Dr Brett Montgomery, General Practitioner and Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia
Ms Kristen Xenos, Pharmacist and Senior Project Officer, ACSQHC
Learning outcomes:
Understand the size of the problem of inappropriate use of medicines and low value care in Australia
Explore strategies for improving the appropriate use of medicines and reducing low value care
Understand how medicines stewardship, quality use of medicines and a focus on appropriate care can contribute to sustainability and better outcomes
Gain insights about practical approaches to reducing the carbon footprint of medicines whilst improving the quality use of medicines
Understand how primary and secondary prevention contribute to healthy communities and a healthy environment
00:01:00 - Overdiagnosis, overtreatment and low value care
00:16:41 - Harnessing medicine stewardship for sustainability
00:30:08 - The future of medicines: good for people, good for the planet
00:48:13 - Panel Discussion: What can be done to drive more appropriate prescribing in practice?
01:15:43 - Interactive Q&A Session: Sustainability of antimicrobials