The Australian Government is improving the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) given to patients after doctors and consumer health advocates raised concerns regarding the complexity and readability of patient material.

New templates are shorter, better laid-out and feature a one-page summary to provide patients with critical information on the safe and effective use of their medicines. The format was user-tested and received excellent feedback from participants and medical professionals, according to a Department of Health news release.

It reminds patients CMIs should be requested from their doctor or pharmacist whenever they are prescribed new medication. CMIs can also be accessed online at the Therapeutic Goods Administration website https://www.tga.gov.au/consumer-medicines-information-cmi