ISIUM hosts a series of conversations – three or four each year – on topics of general interest to ISIUM members and the wider ISIUM community.

The general format for the conversations is for a short presentation to be given to ‘set the scene’, followed by a free flowing, but moderated, Q&A session.

To make sure each event results in a lively and valuable conversation, the number of participants is limited to 50. ISIUM members are given priority. If numbers permit, we are happy to include others from the wider rational use of medicines community.

People are discovering that the conversations are a great way to make new connections with other people with similar interests and many have expressed interest in continuing the conversation after the actual event has concluded! The conversations are becoming ‘conversation starters’.

Conversations held to date are listed below. If you are a member, log in to access links to the recordings. 

Conversation #16, March 2026

Title: Measuring antimicrobial use to drive better decisions: Reflections from the Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS)

This Conversation focused on the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) platform and explain how countries use it to report national antimicrobial use data. 

Conversation leaders: 

Verica Ivanovska, WHO, Switzerland.
Nancy Seve, Medicines Control Authority,  Zimbabwe
Sabrina Yesmin, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh.
Lilit Ghazaryan, Deputy Director of the Center of Drug and Medical Technology Expertise of the Ministry of Health of Armenia.

Moderator: Libby Roughead (Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia).

Conversation #17, May 2026

Title:In conversation with the Lancet Commission: Accelerating access to essential medicines

This Conversation focused on the challenges of improving the quality use of essential medicines, and will provide an opportunity for the ISIUM community to share its experiences, insights and views on the following questions:

  • What new challenges have emerged in relation to the quality use of medicines over the past decade? 
  • Why does the quality use of medicines appear to have received less attention in recent years? 
  • What local insights or lessons can be shared from successful interventions to improve the quality use of medicines? 

Conversation leaders/presenters: 

Andy Gray, Hans Hogerzeil

Conversation #13, November 2024

Title: The Good, the Bad and the Resistant: Effective strategies for antimicrobial resistance

Presenters: 

Kristina Skender, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Sweden.

Rafael Gómez-Coronado, Health Action International (HAI).

Moderator: Libby Roughead (Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia).

 

Conversation #14, May 2025

Title: Rational use of medicines matters: Are we measuring what matters?

Conversation leaders: 

Kathleen Holloway, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University, UK.

Supasit Pannarunothai, Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group for Rational Drug Use (RDU), Thailand.

Moderator: Libby Roughead (Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia).

 

 

Conversation #15, July 2025

Title: Voices of experience on rational use of medicines … looking back, thinking forward

Conversation leaders/presenters: 

Klara Tisocki, Regional Advisor, World Health Organization South East Asia.

Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee, Health and Development Foundation, and the Drug System Monitoring and Development Centre, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. 

Moderator: Libby Roughead, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia.

Conversation #10, February 2024

Title: Prescription detox: The art of deprescribing 

Conversation leaders: 

Cara Tannenbaum, Co-founder, Canadian Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Canada 
Justin Turner, Australian Deprescribing Network, Monash University, Australia 

Moderator: Barbara Mintzes, Professor of Evidence-Based Pharmaceutical Policy, University of Sydney 

 

Conversation #11, April 2024

Title: Medicalisation of society: Scientific innovation or peddling disease? 

Conversation leaders: 

Luechai Sringernyuang, anthropologist (pharmaceutical), Director of Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University, Thailand 
Supawadee Plengchai, primary care pharmacist, Thung Khao Luang Hospital Roi Et Province, Thailand 

Moderator: Libby Roughead, Director, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia 

 

Conversation #12, July 2024

Title: Enhancing medicine use in China: From policy to technology 

Conversation leaders: 

Qiang Sun, Executive Dean of Public Health, Shandong University, China 
Quan Wang, School of Public Health, Peking University, China 

Moderator: Libby Roughead, Director, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia 

Conversation #7, December 2022

Title: Education programs for children: Children as agents for change 

Conversation leaders: 

Natalia Cebotarenco (Moldova): From science to practice: Can school children play a role in promoting rational medicine use in their community? 
Raikhan Tuleutaeva (Kazakhstan): How children in Kazakhstan perceive medicines 
Svetlana Shetinina (Moldova): How kindergarten children can provide knowledge to their parents 
Alisha Maratova (school student, Kazakhstan): Medicine use through the eyes of a Kazakh teenager 

Conversation #8, April 2023

Title: Patient groups and their role in medicines policy 

Conversation leaders: 

Lisa Parker, oncologist, Sydney, Australia 
Sharon Batt, researcher, interdisciplinary studies, Montreal, Canada 

Moderator: Joel Lexchin, Canada 

Conversation #9, September 2023

Title: What do patients do when medicines make them sick? And then what happens? 

Conversation leaders: 

Ravi Shankar, International Medical University, Malaysia 
Nisha Jha, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal 
Subish Palaian, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates 
Susie Latham, Australian writer, researcher, and social justice advocate. 

Conversation #4, December 16, 2021

Title: Expanding the QUM community: Developing partnerships with other disciplines and society 

Conversation leaders: 

Puckwipa Suwannaprom, Chiang Mai University, Thailand 
Chanuttha Ploylearmsang, Mahasarakham University, Thailand 
Sirinart Tongsiri, Mahasarakham University, Thailand 
Katanyu Hawsutisima, Mahasarakham University, Thailand 
Angkana Promraksa, Mahasarakham University, Thailand 
Chaiyong Soemphol, Mahasarakham University, Thailand 

Moderators: Penkarn Kanjanarat, Mary Murray 

Conversation #5, April 12, 2022

Title: In guidelines we trust: But why do recommendations vary? 

Conversation leaders: 

Lydia Green, RxBalance, USA 
Leigh-Anne Claase, Therapeutic Guidelines, Australia 
Alli Patterson, Therapeutic Guidelines, Australia 

Moderator: Leigh-Anne Claase 

Conversation #6, August 30, 2022

Title: Government programs for medicine use during the pandemic: Guided by scientific evidence, or motivated by politics? 

Conversation leaders: 

Veronika Wirtz, Boston University, USA 
Jose Antonio Requejo, Boston University, USA 

Moderator: Veronika Wirtz 

Conversation #1, March 25, 2021

Title: Antibiotic use in the era of COVID: Challenges and opportunities for global antimicrobial stewardship 

Conversation leader:
Libby Roughead, Director, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia 

Moderators: Anna Kemp-Casey, Lisa Pont 

Conversation #2, June 23, 2021

Title: ‘I can’t be bought for the price of a sandwich’: Myths and solutions to pharmaceutical industry funding of health professionals

Conversation leaders:
Barbara Mintzes, Professor of Evidence-Based Pharmaceutical Policy, University of Sydney
Alice Fabbri, Public health physician, Department for Health, University of Bath, UK

Moderators: Judith Mackson.

Conversation #3, September 23, 2021

Title: Health professionals: Influences on their decision-making 

Conversation leaders: 

Debra Rowett, Discipline Leader – Pharmacy, University of South Australia 

Lynn Weekes, ISIUM Board member 

Moderators: Gerel Dorj, Kris Weerasuriya 

If you have any further suggestions for a topic or if you interested in leading a conversation, do let us know by contacting us at info@isium.org.

Last updated on 12 June 2026