MOVES to accelerate the rollout of electronic prescriptions to the Greater Melbourne area in response to the COVID-19 crisis, are being welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) announced the decisions to extend access to the token-based e-script system beyond the current Communities of Interest (COIs) to "support those people most at risk from COVID-19".
In a communique issued by the ADHA this morning the agency said the rollout would "support a safer and more convenient supply of medicines for patients".
Guild Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, told Pharmacy Daily organisation was working with the ADHA, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Federal Government to support the rollout.
"With recent updates to prescriber software systems, there has been an increased capability of the generation of e-tokens as well as patients presenting at pharmacies for them to be dispensed.
"More and more pharmacies have expressed a willingness to become enabled to dispense these prescriptions and assist their patients.
"It is essential as part of this next step of the rollout that there is collaboration between local general practices and pharmacies to establish each other's readiness and capabilities for e-scripts.
"There is more work involved from a pharmacy perspective compared to general practice - and it is important for this to be acknowledged.
"Dispensary software vendors have been assisting pharmacies in becoming activated and ready to dispense e-scripts including those from outside an existing community of interest who have been presented a token.
"Whilst there can be some uncertainties in adapting to anything new - the current state of affairs with the volume of email and fax prescriptions and requests for emergency supply of drugs of dependence including Schedule 8's has been very challenging for pharmacies to address.
"Hopefully e-scripts can help assist with the evolving environment of patients being consulted by doctors via telehealth.
"It is essential that the Active Script List (ASL) as a form of e-prescriptions remains a high priority for roll out as whilst the token system has some benefits, the ASL has far greater overall advantages for delivery of patient care."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Aug 20
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 17 Aug 20
