Mon 16 March 2026
MedsAware 2026: Tackling misinformation to support safer medicines use
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha), in partnership with the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN), today launched its annual MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week campaign with a focus on medical misinformation.
Now in its fourth year, MedsAware continues to empower conversations between consumers, carers and healthcare providers about the benefits of deprescribing and the risks associated with polypharmacy and inappropriate medicine use. MedsAware aims to help reduce preventable medicines-related harm and keep more Australians safe, well and out of hospital.
This year’s campaign highlights the growing challenge of medicines misinformation, as people around the world increasingly encounter conflicting or inaccurate information about medicines online and through digital platforms.
AdPha President Assoc. Prof Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) said pharmacists provide crucial clarity as patients navigate this complex information environment, in support of safe deprescribing.
‘Today, in an era where health information - and misinformation - is more accessible than ever, pharmacists play a vital role in helping people navigate conflicting advice and make evidence-based decisions about their medicines.
‘MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week empowers Australians - along with their carers, families and healthcare teams - to ensure conversations about medicines and treatment decisions are always guided by trusted clinical advice.’
Chair of the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN) Dr Emily Reeve said the campaign highlights the importance of evidence-based advice when it comes to medicines.
‘It's encouraging to see people taking an active interest in their medicines and their health. There are some excellent online resources, but with so much information available, it can be hard to know what’s trustworthy.
‘That’s where qualified health professionals make all the difference: helping people navigate the noise and together, make decisions that are safe, effective and right for them.’
Says President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Dr Michael Wright,
‘For as long as we can remember, patients have come to their GPs seeking advice about information they’ve found or read elsewhere.
What has changed is our access to an ever-increasing source of information and knowing whether that information is correct or relevant. More and more patients are coming in genuinely unsure about what’s true, what’s misleading, and what they can trust.
‘We know misinformation is much harder to correct once it takes hold. That’s why it’s so important that patients, GPs and other health professionals have access to clear, credible, trusted sources we can rely on together.’
Each year, approximately 250,000 Australians are hospitalised due to medication-related harm, much of which is linked to polypharmacy and inappropriate medicine use.
Through MedsAware 2026, AdPha and ADeN - together with national and international partners - are encouraging Australians to seek trusted advice and ensure decisions about medicines, including deprescribing, are made in partnership with qualified health professionals.