Table of Contents
Key Points
About the Medicine Guides
About the Medicines Information Project
The 'Pilot' Phase
The 'Current' Phase
How are the Medicine Guides kept up-to-date?
About the supporting pharmaceutical companies
About Datapharm Communications
Key Points [Top 
]
- Medicine Guides are produced by an independent not-for-profit group
- Funding for Medicine Guides is provided by over 30 pharmaceutical companies
- Medicine Guides are updated as new information becomes available
- Medicine Guides are linked to health information provided by NHS Direct
About Medicine Guides [Top ]
Medicine Guides are a new source of information about medicines that have been
developed as part of an initiative called the Medicines
Information Project.
Medicine Guides are being developed to provide clear, reliable and up-to-date
information about medicines for UK patients and the public. By keeping this
information up-to-date and available we hope to help people understand their
medicines better and use their medicines safely and effectively.
The Medicine Guides have been designed with the help of a number of groups
involved in providing healthcare and support. We have also worked with medical
and communication specialists to ensure that the information provided is
relevant and helpful.
Medicine Guides are authored by an independent group using guidelines approved
by the Medicines Information Project Board.
Every effort is taken to ensure that the information published on this website
is accurate and kept up-to-date. However, we cannot guarantee that all of the
information is completely accurate or complete. This website is provided for
information only. It is not intended to replace a consultation with an
appropriately qualified medical practitioner. Datapharm cannot accept
responsibility for any loss, damage or injury that arises from the use of this
website.
Medicine Guides should be kept with the Information Leaflet that comes with
your medicine, as it is often referred to. Also remember that your chemist,
doctor or nurse will be happy to provide further information about your
medicines and should be contacted if you have any doubts or worries.
Alternatively, you can call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and speak to a specialist
nurse.
For further information and details of our Privacy Policy please click on the
'Legal' button
About the Medicines Information Project [Top ]
For information on the Medicines Information Project click
here.
The 'Pilot' Phase (Phase I) [Top ]
Medicine Guides for cholesterol, epilepsy and influenza were developed during a
pilot phase beginning in 2003. The pilot phase provided an opportunity to
develop and refine the processes for authoring the Medicine Guides whilst
obtaining feedback from users.
The 'Current' Phase (Phase II) [Top ]
Medicine Guides are currently being developed for all Prescription Only
Medicines (POM) licensed in the UK and will be completed by the end of 2007.
How are the Medicine Guides kept up-to-date? [Top ]
Medicine Guides are updated by qualified pharmacists and doctors. We monitor
new information about a medicine as it is published and make any relevant
changes to the Medicine Guides. The information source is the product's Summary
of Product Characteristics (SPC) which is approved by the Government's
licensing authority (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and
the manufacturer.
About the supporting pharmaceutical companies [Top ]
The following pharmaceutical companies are providing financial support for the
Medicine Guides development programme. If you are a pharmaceutical company and
would like to receive information on how to become involved with the project,
please contact us.
Abbott Laboratories Limited
Actelion Pharmaceuticals
Altana Pharma
Amgen Ltd
AstraZeneca
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd
Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals
Discovery Pharmaceuticals
Eisai Ltd
Eli Lilly & Company Ltd
Exelgyn Laboratories
Gilead Sciences
GlaxoSmithKline
Janssen-Cilag Ltd
Leo Laboratories Ltd
Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd
Norgine Ltd
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd
Novo Nordisk Ltd
Organon Laboratories Ltd
Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd
Pfizer Ltd
Pierre Fabre Ltd
Profile Pharma Ltd
ProStrakan
Recordati Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Roche Products Ltd
Schering Health Care Ltd
Schwarz Pharma Ltd
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
About Datapharm Communications [Top ]
Datapharm Communications established in 1977 is a "not for profit" company set
up by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (www.abpi.org.uk)
The aim of Datapharm Communications is to ensure that people have access to
essential information on medicines. Datapharm liaises closely with a broad
range of users and providers of systems and medicines information.