Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) together with the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN) kicked off its third annual MedsAware campaign on Monday 10 March, highlighting the benefits of deprescribing for both people and the planet.
The campaign, which runs from 10-16 March 2025, seeks to empower conversations around the benefits of deprescribing, the risks associated with inappropriate medicine use, and how to reduce preventable medicines-related harm.
With pharmaceuticals said to make up 20% of all healthcare-related greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, this year’s campaign also highlights the benefits of deprescribing on the environment.
“Deprescribing is a “win win” action – reduction in medication misadventure risk and financial cost for patients, and reduction in environmental impact of the manufacture, use and disposal of medicines,” says MedsAware 2025 Campaign Ambassador Grace Wong FANZCAP (MedSafety, MedInfo).
Ms Wong, founding member of AdPha’s Climate and Health Specialty Practice Group and founder of Pharmacists for the Environment, says she’s delighted that this year’s campaign has a focus on sustainability.
“This type of campaign has the potential to drive simple conversations and create change, one small step at a time,” she says.
ADeN Chair Emily Reeve says deprescribing is an essential part of achieving quality use of medicines.
“Deprescribing has broad reaching benefits for individuals and it’s great that this year we can also discuss a future where our health and the health of our planet go hand in hand,” she says.
Sustainability a key focus at AdPha
AdPha President Tom Simpson says AdPha has been working hard to factor sustainability into everything they do, making it one of the five pillars of the recently launched Yindyamarra 2030 6-year strategic plan.
“MedsAware is such an important way to promote sustainable medicine use, but we know that conversation alone isn’t enough,” he says.
“Sustainability must be a priority in procurement, prescribing, and medicine assessments.
“By factoring in carbon costs and increasing transparency, we can make greener choices that support Australia’s health and climate goals.”
Mr Simpson says the theme of sustainability has resonated strongly with many like-minded organisations who have joined this year’s MedsAware week.
“As an awareness campaign, MedsAware thrives on collective voices, and we are deeply grateful to our founding partner, ADeN, and the 15 national and international organisations that have enthusiastically lent their support,” he says.
“We’re excited to see the vital deprescribing message — both for people and the planet — reach far and wide.”
