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How med+info started

In 1996 a group of New Zealand pharmacists were concerned about the increasing number of customers seeking information about their medication. Generally, verbal on-the-spot information was not ideal in the busy pharmacy environment and matters of confidentiality precluded discussion. Only limited written information was available and was often in a language and style that was not easy for patients to understand.

Consultation with patients, health professionals, medical support groups, medicine manufacturers – and a review of Government guidelines for patient information – resulted in a workable and acceptable solution to the problem of "useful medicine information for patients."

The solution was to develop medicine information software that would interface with pharmacies' dispensing software and print a unique one-page (A4) medicine information leaflet for every prescription medicine. The leaflets would then be given to the patients with their medication.

Sample leaflets were prepared and given out with the appropriate prescription medicines. These leaflets were so popular that the trial had to be cancelled, as patients started asking for leaflets for medicines that were not in the trial. Clearly we had the go-ahead for the full project.

By late 1997, the software was released to pharmacies throughout New Zealand. Today nearly half of New Zealand pharmacies (as well as a number of public hospitals) are licensed to use med+info software. We also now supply software to many Australian pharmacies.

Aware that unless the leaflets are easily read they are of little use we employ wordsmiths and graphic designers to ensure leaflets are user-friendly. Feedback from patients is a fundamental part of our leaflet reviews and results in leaflets that reflect patients’ needs for honest, reliable, relevant, consistent and current information about their medication.

Med+info leaflets are divided into six sections, to help you find any particular information quickly.