The first Finnish National Medicines Day takes place on 6 November 2012
The National Medicines Day is a national day for both medicine users and health care professionals. “Know your medicines” is the theme of the first National Medicines Day, taking place on 6 November 2012 on the initiative of Paula Risikko, Minister of Social Affairs and Health.
In recent years, the self-sufficient and active role of patients has been emphasised in maintaining health and treating illnesses. At the same time, the large volume of official and unofficial sources has become a challenge for both patients and healthcare professionals. Finding objective and reliable information and evaluating existing information is therefore crucial. The purpose of the National Medicines Day is to encourage medicine users to pay attention to their medication. Similarly, professionals are recommended to ask questions about their use of prescription drugs and give advice.
The national Medicines Information Strategy in support of the National Medicines Day
The main objective of the national Medicines Information Strategy, published by the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) in February 2012, is to increase the amount of evidence-based, objective and reliable information for the general population and healthcare professionals. The right information helps support the safe medication of patients, and from the perspective of citizens, medicines information can also be considered a right that should be included as an essential part of providing medical treatment.
The new strategy comprehensively describes the current situation regarding medicines information activities, the best practices of different parties, and the shortcomings and challenges of medicines information activities. The strategy was drawn up in co-operation with various parties within the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors.
Currently, Fimea is creating a Medicines Information Network to put the measures of the Medicines Information Strategy into practice. The Medicines Information Network consists of the following working groups:
-
Medicines Information Coordination Group
-
Education Working Group
-
Research Working Group
-
Working Group on Developing Medicines Information for Healthcare Professionals
-
Working Group on Developing Medicines Information for Medicine Users.
The Medicines Information Coordination Group met for the first time in September 2012. The Coordination Group will form the other Working Groups around the New Year.
Read more:
Medicines Information Strategy
laakehoidonpaiva.fi (in Finnish)
Information on medicines for the general public on Fimea’s website
More information:
Katri Hämeen-Anttila, Development Manager, tel. +358 50 577 3075
E-mail address: firstname.lastname@fimea.fi.