This page provides resources and a reference table of medication safety alerts, notices and guidance issued by the Australian states and territories and by international organisations using the APINCHS classification. There could be other more recent alerts, advice and guidance related to other medicines or practice areas which may be relevant to you or your organisation.
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In Australia, the APINCHS acronym and classification provides a framework to assist clinicians to focus on a group of medicines known to be associated with high potential for medication-related harm. APINCHS does not encompass all high risk medicines, but it is a valuable tool to raise clinician awareness and to educate them about medication safety systems.
Categorisation of and policy relating to high risk medicines may vary between states, territories and health service organisations. This means that health service organisations should have systems and process in place for the safe use of high risk medicines.
High risk medicines (HRMs) are medications that have an increased risk of causing significant patient harm or death if they are misused or used in error.1
Medicine shortages and discontinuations can potentially compromise patient safety. Guidance and resources are issued, which advise on:
- strategies on conserving medicines during medicine shortages and associated safety considerations
- strategies and safety considerations during periods of medicine discontinuations.
These briefs summarise the evidence on the effectiveness of safety interventions that aim to improve medication administration.
The New South Wales Clinical Excellence Commission, in consultation with the Commission has made the decision to decommission the Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA®) for Australian Hospitals on 30 September 2025. In response to the discontinuation, the Commission has notified states, territories and accreditation bodies and in August 2025, will remove references to the MSSA® for Australian Hospitals from this website. A disclaimer will be added to the webpage where the implementation guide for the National Safety and Quality Health Service Medication Safety Standard is hosted.
The National Indicators for Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in Australian Hospitals 2014 support measurement of safety and quality of medicines use. The individual indicators are listed on this page.
The Commission, with the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Australian Government Department of Health, has developed guidelines to standardise the presentation of on-screen medicines information. The aim was to ensure benefit from investments in e-health initiatives and to maximise patient safety.
Digital health systems such as electronic medication management (EMM) can improve the safety and quality of health care.
By using EMM, healthcare services can reduce the number of preventable adverse medication events, and medication prescribing and dispensing errors. EMM systems can improve the accuracy, visibility and legibility of medical information, so that the communication between professionals and consumers is clearer.
Medication errors are one of the most reported clinical incidents in acute health care settings and, while rates of serious harm are low, their prevalence is of concern particularly as many are preventable. A recognised major cause of medication errors is the use of potentially dangerous abbreviations and dose expressions.
The resources and tools listed on this page can help healthcare services implement the Labelling Standard.
Labelling resources are available for medicines and fluids in: closed-and open-practice perioperative areas; interventional cardiac catheter and radiology laboratories and in dedicated continuous infusions in all areas, including intensive care units.
The NIMC and PBS HMC are not intended for recording nutritional supplements.
The national inpatient medication chart (NIMC) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) hospital medication chart (HMC) are designed so that a single adverse drug reaction (ADR) alert sticker can be applied on both pages 3 and 4.
The National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) audit aims to improve the safety and quality of medication charting in Australian hospitals who use paper-based NSMCs. Audit data can help health service organisations evaluate the effectiveness of NSMC safety features. These features can contribute to improved health outcomes for patients and identify areas for continuous quality improvement within hospitals.
These guidelines provide detailed guidance on the scope of changes to the national inpatient medication charts (NIMC) that can be authorised at local levels (such as state and territory, private health service chain or local hospital network, and individual health service organisation).
Some medicines – such as clozapine and subcutaneous insulin – require specialised chart features.
The NIMC and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme hospital medication chart (PBS HMC) include a section on VTE prophylaxis. The National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) (day surgery) incorporates a modified VTE prophylaxis section.