The National Prescribing Service (NPS) has a field force of more than 150 NPS Facilitators working in divisions and networks of general practice around Australia. NPS Facilitators come from a range of healthcare backgrounds including pharmacy, nursing and medicine. The NPS has agreements with divisions and networks of general practice to employ an NPS Facilitator to deliver a structured program of services and activities for health professionals and consumers. NPS Facilitators, with their links with health professionals in their own communities, are one of the strengths of the program. They play a key role in promoting the NPS activities, pharmacists, practice nurses and other health professionals in their local area. Their role includes:

• providing one to one educational visits to general practitioners to give them the opportunity to discuss current issues in therapeutics

• conducting small group case based discussions with doctors, pharmacists and practices nurses

• promoting and supporting Quality Use of Medicines activities in their communities.

Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) is one of the central objectives of Australia's National Medicines Policy. QUM means: selecting management options wisely; choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary; and using medicines safely and effectively. 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 medicines, over-the-counter medicines and vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal and natural therapies medicines.