NPS News : Order of Australia honours for NPS MedicineWise CEO Dr Lynn Weekes
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Jun.12 , 2013
The board and staff of NPS MedicineWise congratulate our CEO Dr Lynn Weekes on receiving an award in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday honours.
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, Dr Weekes has been recognised for significant service to Australian community health through the promotion of quality use of medicines.
She was appointed CEO of what was then known as the National Prescribing Service on its establishment in 1998; an organisation with an initial focus on activities that improved the quality of prescribing by general practitioners.
Chair of NPS MedicineWise Dr Janette Randall says that over the past 15 years NPS MedicineWise has grown into a large and very successful organisation under Dr Weekes’ leadership.
“Our scope of work has increased to include a range of programs and services that improve the way medicines and medical tests are used in Australia, and the organisation has shifted from being a health professional focused organisation to one that puts consumer and public needs at the fore,” says Dr Randall.
“The work of NPS MedicineWise is comprehensive and provides enormous benefits to the Australian community and Lynn’s leadership and vision have been critical to this growth. She is a passionate advocate for quality use of medicines, and always keeps the consumer at the centre of decision making.
“Lynn is modest about her own contributions and is driven by a deep and unwavering commitment to make the lives of Australian consumers better through improved cost effectiveness and more appropriate and safe use of medicines and tests. There is no doubt that her efforts have improved the lives of many, and made our health system safer and more effective.”
Current programs underway by NPS MedicineWise include a five-year campaign to fight antibiotic resistance as well as educational programs on best practice in oral anticoagulants and preventive activities in general practice.