Health Minister launches new medicine sustainability strategy
Date published:
The Health Minister has launched Northern Ireland's first strategy focused on the sustainable use of medicines.
The Health Minister has launched Northern Ireland's first strategy focused on the sustainable use of medicines.
'Valuing Medicines: A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Medicines in Northern Ireland' aims to support improvements in the use of medicines within the Health and Social Care (HSC) system, ensuring they add value to health, are cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:
"With annual medicines expenditure now reaching Pound 875 million, it is vital that we all work together to make the best possible use of our medicines.
"My Department already delivers significant efficiencies from the prescribing budget through the Medicines Optimisation Regional Efficiency (MORE) programme, which saves around Pound 20 million each year. However, further action is still needed.
"Medicines optimisation not only delivers cost benefits for the HSC system, it can also help reduce carbon emissions, improve patient safety and ensure equitable access to innovative treatments and technologies for future generations."
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison added:
"Medicines have a vital role in helping to prevent, treat, and cure disease. They are our most common medical intervention and are relied upon to support health and wellbeing throughout life.
"However, with medicine costs increasing annually, we need to take action to protect access to medicines for the future. This strategy sets out what we intend to do to help ensure the sustainable use of medicines and embed a culture of valuing medicines within the HSC and the wider population.
"I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the public consultation. These responses were invaluable in shaping the strategy we have launched today."
The new strategy seeks to embed sustainable medicines practice into all HSC settings, promoting a culture that:
- Allows equitable access to appropriate, safe and cost-effective medicines.
- Involves patients in decisions about their medicines, promotes preventive care, and improves access to non-medical therapies.
- Reduces waste and the environmental impact of medicines.
- Drives improvement through data, technology, research and innovation.
