Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) is one of the central objectives of Australia’s National Medicines Policy. QUM refers to the quality use of medicines. It is a strategy for improving the use of medicines.

Quality Use of Medicines means:

• Selecting management options wisely
• Choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary so that the best available option is selected 
• Using medicines safely and effectively to get the best possible results

The definition of QUM applies equally to decisions about medicine use by individuals and decisions that affect the health of the population.

The term 'medicine' includes prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines.

Finding out more

• Quality Use of Medicines Executive Summary brochure
• Achieving quality use of medicines in the community for palliative and end of life care
  A consultation report produced by National Prescribing Service Limited and Palliative Care Australia
• QUMMAP provides a comprehensive map of current major quality use of medicines (QUM) initiatives in Australia.

This page was created on 4 October 2010