The collective
effort of veterans, doctors and pharmacists working in partnership
with the Australian Government was vital to reducing medication-caused
sickness and hospitalisation in the veteran community, the
Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Bruce Billson, said today.
The Minister was speaking about the Australian Government's
medication management program for veterans at the National
Medicines Symposium, a biennial forum on the quality use of
medicines, at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.
"Many of our veterans are old - 70 per cent are over
the age of 75 - and many have multiple chronic medical conditions
requiring regular medicine use. Although they often depend
on a variety of medicines to maintain their health and quality
of life, if not taken correctly, medicines can result in additional
health problems," Mr Billson said. "The Australian
Government, through the Department of Veterans' Affairs, is
committed to working closely and effectively with health practitioners
and the veteran community to ensure help is available to veterans
to manage their medicines.
"DVA has a world-class medication management program
that uses preventative health strategies and initiatives to
increase the benefits of medicines and reduce the adverse
consequences for veterans at risk of medication misadventure.
"The Veterans' Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education
Services program, or Veterans' MATES, is one such initiative
being implemented by DVA, in partnership with Local Medical
Officers, pharmacists and the veteran community, to better
support veterans.
"Veterans' MATES is a series of individual clinical modules
that target specific medication or health issues in the veteran
community. Each module utilises a brochure for veterans and
a therapeutic brief to LMOs. It was launched in 2004 to help
veterans get the best out of their medicines and reduce medication
misadventure. "The Veterans' MATES program is a good
example of the team approach needed to ensure medicines enhance
rather than harm the health and well-being of our veterans.
"The National Medicines Symposium and similar forums
are to be commended for stimulating shared ideas about improving
medicine use and supporting the Australian Government's commitment
to the safety of veterans," Mr Billson said.