E-DRUG: Launch of Australian QUM Map, e-Promotion debate

e-drug
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E-drug: Launch of Australian QUM Map, e-Promotion debate
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Dear Colleagues,

The QUM Map project is a good example of the innovative application of
information technology (IT) and telecommunications in health.

The Map provides a graphical (mapped) interface to a Web accessible database
of Australian Quality Use of Medicines(QUM) projects. If you have a Web
browser, it is accessible at:

  http://www.qummap.health.gov.au/.

The aim was to:
* encourage networking of health professionals and consumer groups with
similar interests;
* reduce inefficiencies and duplication of effort;
* show where activities are concentrated and where there are deficiencies;
* assist policy planning and resource allocation.

The "official" press release can be found at:

  http://www.health.gov.au/mediarel/yr1999/gt/gt99018.htm

A related Australian Prescriber Editorial (Volume 22 Number 2 1999) can be
found at:

  http://www.australianprescriber.com/

Finally, there is an ongoing most interesting Web debate concerning the role
of pharmaceutical promotion in GP prescribing software archived at:

  http://www-sph.health.latrobe.edu.au/telehealth/telepres.htm#Promotion

(if this long URL wraps please enter it all in your browser).

We have already had a helpful Canadian contribution from Joel Lexchin. I
invite more international contributions to this important debate.

Cheers,
Dr. Ken Harvey, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health,
La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3083, Australia,
Telephone +61 3 9479 1750, Facsimile +61 3 9479 1783,
k.harvey@latrobe.edu.au
Internet: http://www-sph.health.latrobe.edu.au/kharvey/

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