Overview

From 31 October 2019, changes to Commonwealth legislation recognise an Electronic Prescription as an optional, alternative legal form to paper prescriptions by which medicines can be supplied under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

An electronic prescription can be sent securely from a GP’s practice software to a patient’s mobile phone or email (as a token) or multiple tokens can be added to an electronic list called Active Script List (or My Script List, MySL). The token is scanned by any pharmacist of the patient’s choice when dispensing the medicine. Once registered and created by a pharmacist after patient consent, electronic prescriptions can also be issued by a GP and dispensed by a pharmacist in a My Script List.

Electronic Prescriptions are a safe, secure and convenient way for patients to have their medicines supplied. Electronic prescribing is not mandatory and is an option for prescribers and their patients to use as an alternative to a paper prescription.

To assist you in getting your Pharmacy or Practice ready for Electronic Prescriptions, please find the relevant checklist in the ‘Resources’ Section below or contact SNHN Digital Health Team at DigitalHealth@snhn.org.au for support.

Benefits

• Improves efficiency in prescribing and dispensing medications.
• May reduce prescribing and dispensing errors
• Reduces the administrative burden for healthcare providers and organisations (e.g.
  handling and storing a physical paper prescription)
• Providing an opportunity to protect community members and healthcare providers from exposure to infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19) or other emergencies.
• Provides greater choice for patients whilst maintaining patient privacy and integrity of personal information.
• Supports digital health services such as telehealth services to ensure continuity of patient care.

Education

Below are links to recorded webinars previously presented by the Australian Digital Health Agency:

Electronic Prescriptions – Update for Pharmacists

Electronic Prescriptions – Update for General Practice

Initiatives and programs

Resources

Australian Digital Health Agency – Information for Prescribers and Information for dispensers

Electronic Prescribing Factsheet – Dispensers

Electronic Prescribing Factsheet – Prescribers

Electronic Prescription Checklist – Dispensers

Electronic Prescription Checklist – Prescribers

eRx – Electronic prescribing information

PSA – Dedicated Electronic Prescription Support Line 1300 955 162. Available 8.30 am to 7.00pm AEST

List of electronic prescription-enabled pharmacies in the Northern Sydney region (NB: While we endeavour to keep this list as up-to-date as possible, it may not reflect all pharmacies that are enabled for e-prescriptions. We encourage you to contact your local pharmacy to check if they are enabled. If you are an EP-enabled pharmacy and would like to be added to this list, please contact digitalhealth@snhn.org.au.)