The law of diminishing returns, first described by economists to explain why, beyond a certain point, additional inputs produce smaller and smaller outputs, offers insight into many situations practitioners stumble upon in clinical practice. In everyday experience, this law is expressed, as “the gain is not worth the pain.”

As part of our national health professionals program, NPS uses a range of evidence-based strategies to provide unbiased information and promote optimal clinical practice.

For those of us fortunate enough to travel to London and to enjoy the delights of the tube, a common exhortation heard constantly over the loudspeakers is to ‘mind the gap’—between the carriage and the platform. Here in Sydney, it is more applicable to focus on closing the gap - between the disparate health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. As CVD is the leading cause of death for the Indigenous population in most states and running at 3 times the age-cause-specific rate for non-Indigenous Australians, it would make a difference to tackle this issue.

The overarching aim of clinical audit is to improve service user outcomes by improving professional practice and the general quality of services delivered.

New generics campaign to focus on safety around medicine brand choices The new phase of NPS Be Medicinewise campaign was launched in April and focuses on safety in the context of medicine brand choices.

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, CSGPN has commenced educational visits on Opioid Therapy in Chronic Pain: Use a Planned Approach. Opium has been used by man over many millennia.

This incentive is intended to assist practices in keeping up to date with information on the quality use of medicines. It rewards participation in a range of activities recognised or provided by the NPS.

It’s time again for us to embark on a new topic: Opioid Therapy in Chronic (non-cancer) Pain. This topic explores ways of optimising the benefits of opioids in chronic pain while minimising the harms associated with inappropriate use. These include careful patient selection, clear communication about the goals of opioid therapy, careful advice about proper use and close monitoring.