ISIUM is a network, a think tank and a forum for the exploration of ways of knowing about medicines, their best use and their role in society, health and illness.

There are many powerful influences, known and unknown, that drive the use of medicines. Escalating costs, inappropriate use and unwanted side effects are huge burdens to society and to individuals and families. Much remains unknown about medicines in the context of everyday life in widely differing contexts around the world. It is essential to encourage research and dialogue and promote activities to achieve the safe, cost-effective and equitable use of medicines.

Solutions are complex and effective strategies for change require input from people from many different disciplines and backgrounds and with a diverse range of capacities and perspectives, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, policy makers, individual patients and consumers in general.

While many projects to improve the use of medicines have been tested over the years in different parts of the world, there has not ever been a dedicated on-going accessible forum to share experiences, foster coordination and learning across different groups and countries. This gap has been a driving force for the establishment of ISIUM.

Our vision

We want to inspire, encourage and empower people to work in the construction of another possible and better world in which we achieve the best use of medicines, giving medicines their rightful place in medical care for the good of humanity and having respect for the diverse and challenging real-world contexts.

Our aims

The overarching aim of the International Society to Improve the Use of Medicines (ISIUM) is to raise awareness and promote the best use of medicines throughout the world to improve health and the management of disease in human beings, including all situations that involve or affect health and the use of medicines in the wider environment.

We will champion change for best use of medicines in society at all levels by . . .

Connecting

We will establish a platform to connect people of different backgrounds and capacities to share information on any activities relating to improving the use of medicines. We will gather information from members to create:

  • databases of members and their networks, their interests and activities in improving the use of medicines,
  • databases of, and links to, independent and trusted sources of information about medicines and their use.

Thinking

We will create a think tank:

  • to analyse, articulate and disseminate controversial issues relating to the use of medicines in society that have been identified by any process within ISIUM,
  • to develop and publish articles that translate the complex issues behind the science and use of medicines for various audiences, particularly lay people and regulators, and
  • to identify and stimulate discussion on other critical and pertinent issues such as:
    – the limits of knowledge of medicines,
    – the processes used to create evidence, and
    – issues surrounding conflicts of interests in the marketing and regulation of medicines in society.

Innovating

We will invite enquiry into aspects of medicines in society to support the needs of people, looking critically at what we do not know including previously unconsidered perspectives:

  • to develop new paradigms, and
  • to reveal and give expression to views of medicines outside conventional approaches.

In all activities we will encourage the adoption of high ethical standards of all people involved in any work that is centred around improving the use of medicines.

Strategic plan

ISIUM’s initial strategic plan was developed by the Board of ISIUM in December 2017.

An updated strategic plan for the the years 2023 to 2025 was developed  by the Board in the latter half of 2022. It was approved by the Board at its meeting on 24th February 2023. Download current strategic plan here.

Guiding principles and constitution

The fundamental guiding principle for ISIUM is its integrity and this depends on its adherence to some key principles, including:

  • cross-discipline partnerships at all levels of the society,
  • a not-for-profit model that encourages disparate groups to work together for the common good,
  • an ethos of excellence, transparency and respect for cultural and political differences,
  • respect for work that has gone before,
  • total intellectual independence – underpinned by a strict conflict of interest policy,
  • efficient use of capital,
  • intelligent use of technology,
  • a consumer-generated focus.

Networking and knowledge management will be key features of ISIUM. If we are to make a real change the challenges will be to:

  • not be afraid to take on controversial issues,
  • bring an originality of thinking to the critical issues,
  • try to explore what is not known so that problems not covered in the current frame of knowledge can be addressed, and
  • create a new generation of champions for the best use of medicines.

The aspirations of ISIUM are global. A legal standing however is needed for ISIUM to operate so for convenience and practical reasons it has been incorporated and registered in Australia.

The basis for the operation of the organisation its constitution. Download ISIUM’s consitution here.