COSIsiFA: High-Quality Pharmaceutical Information

COSÌsiFA – Cittadini e Operatori SanItari sempre informati sul FArmaco (Citizens and Healthcare Professionals always informed about medicines) – is an independent scientific information initiative on medicines, promoted and funded by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) and implemented by Zadig together with around sixty public institutions across all Italian regions. The project officially started on 14 October 2024 and will run for three years.

The project aims to improve the quality and independence of information on medicines provided by public institutions, producing scientifically sound content, free from conflicts of interest and presented in a clear and accessible way, through tools available to everyone.

A core principle of COSÌsiFA is the independence of information. The initiative is addressed not only to healthcare professionals, with the goal of equipping them with the tools needed to respond effectively to patients’ needs, but also to all citizens, encouraging the development of a critical and proactive attitude towards personal health choices.

The primary objective of the project is to enhance and strengthen existing independent initiatives on medicine information and training at local level, fostering collaboration among the various stakeholders. This is achieved through communication channels and tools designed to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information.

The materials produced and the many initiatives developed within the project are progressively made available on the infarmaco.it portal and through other dissemination channels, offering an up-to-date service for citizens and healthcare professionals and providing them with tools to navigate the complex world of medicines, their effectiveness and their safety.

Four thematic focuses

Within the project, four priority thematic areas have been identified:

• paediatrics
• oncology
• antibiotic resistance
• chronic conditions and polypharmacy

These themes are addressed by the centres participating in the initiative, organised into nine working groups to ensure comprehensive coverage of information needs.

Activities include:

• publication of daily news from scientific literature
• weekly newsletters
• bulletins for the dissemination of information produced by the different working groups
• development of training programmes
• management of the project website and social media channels
• development of a dedicated app
• initiatives in schools to promote critical thinking and informed choices regarding the use of medicines