National Inpatient Medication Chart

National Inpatient Medication Chart – Medication charts and other standardisations

Endorsed national medication charts for adults in Australian hospitals

• National Inpatient Medication Chart 2009 for acute care (PDF 126 KB)


• NIMC long-stay version for acute care (PDF 126 KB)
Support materials are available.

The following versions are high resolution and designed for professional printing.

• National Inpatient Medication Chart 2009 (PDF 125 KB) high resolution for printing


• NIMC long-stay version (for acute care use) (PDF 123 KB) high resolution for printing

A four A4 page version of the NIMC has been endorsed. It is intended for general practice electronic prescribing systems used to prescribe for admitted patients. Most general practice electronic prescribing systems are not able to issue medication orders in complying NIMC formats for admitted patients because the NIMC is double side printed on A3 paper. The Health Services Medication Expert Advisory Group endorsed the four A4 page NIMC intending for it to be incorporated into general practice electronic prescribing systems as they are upgraded. It will permit general practitioners using A4 single side (or double side) printers to issue NIMC complying medication orders.

National Inpatient Medication Chart four A4 page version (PDF 123 KB)

User guidelines have also been developed.

National Inpatient Medication Chart four A4 page version - User advice (PDF 127 KB)


Endorsed national medication charts for children in Australian hospitals

Paediatric versions of the NIMC, the NIMC long-stay version and support materials are available.


Support materials for the National Inpatient Medication Chart





• Using the NIMC and other charts


• National Inpatient Medication Chart User Guide including the paediatric versions January 2011


• National terminology, abbreviations and symbols to be used in the prescribing and administering of medicines in Australian hospitals


• Local management of the NIMC


• NIMC local management guidelines (PDF 148 KB)


• NIMC education


NIMC and other standard medication charts are being incorporated into health professional curricula and other materials. The NPS: Better choices, Better health makes available an NIMC web-based e-learning package.


• NIMC auditing


• NIMC national audit reports


• NIMC Audit Form


• Guide to Auditing NIMC


• National Inpatient Medication Chart 2012 National Audit


• NIMC presentations


• The National Inpatient Medication Chart: Has it worked? What are the issues? SHPA Federal Conference presentation, November 2007 by Helen Leach BSc (Hons), Dip.Clin.Pharm., MPhil (PDF 1132 KB)


• NIMC journal articles


• Pilot of a National Inpatient Medication Chart in Australia: improving prescribing safety and enabling prescribing training (PDF 2740 KB)


• Impact of a standard medication chart on prescribing errors: a before-and-after audit
  Qual Saf Health Care 2009;18:478-485 doi:10.1136/qshc.2007.025296


• NIMC Implementation, Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, Volume 36, No. 1, 2006 (PDF 88 KB)


• Background to the NIMC


• Australian Health Ministers’ Conference joint communiqué (PDF 64 KB)


• Summary rationale for a national medication chart (PDF 25 KB)


• NIMC Pilot Aggregate Data Report (PDF 304 KB)

Private hospitals

Private hospitals have particular issues implementing and using the NIMC. Go to the Private Hospitals web page for more information.