Pharmacy Daily | Forged prescriptions alert

PROFESSIONAL indemnity insurer, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL), is warning pharmacists to look out for forged prescriptions being presented.

PDL said that despite the introduction of Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM), "some forged or fraudulently obtained prescriptions may still slip through the checking process".

PDL noted that falsified prescriptions often have multiple "red flags", such as being for S8 or S4 monitored medicines that may be subject to misuse or abuse; the patient or prescriber are from outside the local area; or the prescription has not been recorded on an RTPM system.

There may also be behavioural indicators, such as being overly friendly, or the patient or prescriber have called in advance to check if the medication is in stock.

Before acting on suspicious prescriptions, the insurer has stressed the need to prioritise safety of staff and other customers, and suggests making a copy of the script before interacting with the individual.

It recommends that pharmacists should contact the prescriber if they have doubts over the validity of a script, and check recent communications from authorities and the RTPM system.

The insurer reminded pharmacists to be aware that "sophisticated forgeries often have valid PBS Authority Approvals", and that they should "not use the existence of a valid PBS Authority Approval as a way of verifying a prescription".

PDL also suggested caution when presented with phone, fax and emailed scripts for high-risk medication, and to encourage the use of electronic prescriptions.

Pharmacists should report forged prescriptions to state health departments and the police as soon as possible. KB