QUEENSLAND'S real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) system, QScript, is expected to be launched within the coming weeks, with its use to be mandated a month later.
Speaking during a training webinar last night, Queensland Health Advanced Pharmacist Advisor, Nicolette Ellis, said the rollout of the system will commence once the State's Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MP Act) is enacted, which will enable the QScript database to be established.
"Without the MP Act we're a little bit hamstrung as to when QScript can be implemented," she said.
"We are awaiting an announcement date from the Health Minister, and as soon as we have that information we'll be distributing that widely to our stakeholders," she said.
"Internally we are working towards an end of Sep or early Oct commencement date for the MP Act and implementation of QScript.
"We have within the regulations and legislation that this will be mandated one month after commencement of the MP Act."
While other jurisdictions that have implemented RTPM systems have waited 12 months before mandating their use, Ellis backed Queensland's decision to require practitioners to use QScript sooner.
"What we learned from Victoria is that about 20% of GPs would use the SafeScript system - which is similar to QScript - and about 40% of pharmacists would use the system on a regular basis," she said.
"So we are looking to mandate it one month after [commencement], and speaking from a pharmacist's point-of-view I believe that it's more effective when we have everybody using the system.
"At least when it's mandated we have both the GP and the pharmacist checking the system, so there's not more of that burden on the pharmacist to be complying with the new legislation, or to be contacting the doctor to let them know the information that is contained within QScript."
Under the MP Act all QScript will capture all prescriptions for Schedule 8 medicines, along with benzodiazepines, codeine, gabapentin, pregabalin, quetiapine, tramadol, zolpidem and zopiclone.
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