PATIENTS will be able to use the Facebook-owned messaging service, WhatsApp, in addition to SMS and email, to order electronic prescriptions following the launch of a new service by Fred IT Group.
The pharmacy IT specialist will officially unveil the system at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) on the Gold Coast this week, having won an Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) Innovation Challenge for the initiative.
Fred IT CEO, Paul Naismith, said the addition of WhatsApp as an option for ordering e-scripts would deliver greater flexibility for patients, while delivering end-to-end encryption.
"The addition of WhatsApp ordering makes it significantly easier for patients to manage their medications, and means that a significant number of patients now have the flexibility to choose between using SMS, email or WhatsApp to order their prescriptions," he said.
"We know that more and more, consumers are favouring one app that they can use for many interactions.
"As one of the most widely used chat apps in Australia, WhatsApp options for script ordering will be available to the most people possible."
Meanwhile, Corum Group issued an update on legal proceedings relating to its wholly owned subsidiary, PharmX, which are being contested by Fred IT.
Corum claims the price payable for Fred IT's PharmX securities in 2020 was higher than it should have been, alleging that Fred IT had continued to receive distributions from PharmX which it was not entitled to.
Fred IT has also launched proceedings against PharmX claiming an entitlement to pay distributions relating to FY20.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 19 May 21
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 19 May 21