Find medical and health information from reputable web resources, and from books and journal databases at the State Library of Victoria.
What is CMI?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are required by Australian law to produce CMI leaflets for all prescription products available in Australia. These may come with the product, or else may be available via the dispensing pharmacist. Several websites provide easy access to the CMI's, as well as other information related to pharmaceutical products, including over-the-counter and complementary products.
NPS - MedicineWise
An Australian Government funded, not-for-profit organisation. NPS links to the CMI's, but also provides information for both consumers, and health professionals on many issues to do with medications, prescribing, regulations, research, and more.
The following are only available within the State Library of Victoria building, as well as some academic or public libraries.
The MIMS annual
The MIMS annual (hardcopy) provides much more comprehensive information than the freely available CMI's. It includes technical information, such as the chemical structure of the substance, and its pharmacology, as well as every reported adverse effect, and more. It is used by many GP's when prescribing. An online version, eMims Cloud, is also accessible - see below.
eTG Complete
The eTG (or Therapeutic Guidelines complete) database provides clear, practical, succinct and up-to-date therapeutic information (primarily pharmaceutical) for a range of diseases. They are based on the latest international literature, interpreted by some of Australia’s most eminent and respected experts, with input from an extensive network of general practitioners and other users.
Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines - Guidelines Portal
Clinical practice guidelines are ‘systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific circumstances’ (Field and Lohr, 1992 ). Search by several parameters, including: condition; life stage; publication year, etc.
This free resource is from the National Institute for Clinical Studies (NCIS), a NHMRC funded agency.
eMims Cloud
Available within the State Library of Victoria, and externally to Victorian registered patrons. eMims Cloud is the web version of the print version of MIMS pharmaceutical product information. It contains both abbreviated and full prescribing information, consumer medicine information and product images for pharmaceuticals available in Australia. eMims Cloud is greatly enhanced from the paper edition by having full search capabilities on either a single value or across multiple or advanced search criteria. It also allows browsing of the product information by Therapeutic Class, Generic or Brand.
Australian prescriber
Free online journal (also available in print). Articles on issues to do with drugs and therapeutics. Published by NPS MedicineWise
Tools to help you assess the quality of health stories in the media:
Health News Review
A US based site which evaluates the quality of health news stories. Not-for-profit site, and no advertising.
NHS Choices: behind the headlines
Aims to provide an unbiased and evidence-based analysis of health stories that make the news
LIBRARY UPDATE
For details of current access arrangements please see our Covid Safe Library page
