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eHealth

Electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicines Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to questions about electronic methods of prescribing and dispensing medicines.

In this section:

General Questions
Consumer FAQ’s
Medical Practitioner FAQ’s
Pharmacist FAQ’s
Software Vendor FAQ’s

General questions

What is electronic prescribing and dispensing?

Electronic prescribing dispensing will enable all stages of the prescribing, supply of medicine and claiming process to occur electronically. It will provide an alternative to the current paper based prescription system. Prescriptions will be created and signed electronically by prescribers. A more streamlined process will allow for a prescription to be entered electronically by a medical practitioner, authenticated via an electronic signature, and transmitted securely for dispensing by a pharmacy.

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is a method of signing an electronic document that identifies and authenticates a particular person as the source of the electronic document and indicates that person’s approval of (and accountability for) the information contained in the electronic document.

How will electronic prescribing and dispensing work?

The process will allow for a prescription to be created electronically by a medical practitioner, authenticated via an electronic signature, transmitted securely and retrieved by a pharmacy for dispensing. There are a number of potential electronic prescribing and dispensing business models. No one solution will be mandated at this time because key work on standards and health information regulations are still being finalised.

Parties interested in implementing an electronic prescribing solution that involves prescribing PBS medicines will need to submit a proposal for assessment. Further information can be obtained by submitting an expression of interest to eprescribing@health.gov.au and details of the approval process will be forwarded to you. These details will include the assessment principles in the first instance and more detailed guidelines in the coming months.

What are the benefits?

This initiative has the potential to deliver a range of real benefits including:
  • Improved confidentiality and security of medication information;
  • Better clarity and communication of prescription information;
  • Rapid information exchange;
  • Increased time for patients with health professionals due to less paperwork;
  • Potential reduction in medication and dispensing errors;
  • Potential decline in adverse drug events; and
  • Reduction in fraud risks present in the paper-based process.

Is this legal in my State or Territory?

Commonwealth legislative barriers to electronic prescribing and dispensing of PBS medicines have been removed by implementing changes to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2006. The regulatory amendments became effective on 1 March 2007. In addition to Commonwealth amendments, state and territory legislative barriers have been identified and are currently being removed to align with the Commonwealth amendments and to provide the rules for electronic prescribing and dispensing in each jurisdiction. Top of page

I am a consumer:

How will electronic prescribing and dispensing work for me?

Electronic prescribing and dispensing has the potential to assist with reducing the risk of medication errors during the process of prescribing and dispensing your medicine. This streamlined process will enable speedy transfer of information between your medical practitioner and pharmacist, allowing for more time to be spent on your health-care needs.

Will I still have a choice of Pharmacy?

Yes, this initiative will not affect your choice of pharmacy. When using the new electronic process you will be able to have your medicine supplied from your preferred pharmacy.

Will I be able to have my prescription sent electronically now?

In the beginning there will be a limited number of medical practitioners and pharmacies involved so, this option won’t be available to everyone immediately.

How will my privacy be protected?

Your prescription information will be managed in a secure environment with safeguards in place to protect your privacy as they are now with paper prescriptions.

Who can access my records?

Your electronic prescription will be protected in accordance with current legal obligations. Only those who need to know your prescription information in order to meet your health care needs will be able to access your prescription information. For example, your medical practitioner and the pharmacists that you have chosen to supply your medicine.

Can I still receive a paper based prescription?

Yes, this will not affect your choice to use the existing paper based prescription process. You may choose to have a paper prescription or for your prescription to be sent electronically.

How can I keep track of my repeats?

Where appropriate, your pharmacist will provide you with details of your prescription including a record of your repeats.

What changes do I need to make?

You will not be required to do anything more than what you already do. If you choose to have your prescription sent electronically, and your pharmacy is able to receive such prescriptions, you can ask your medical practitioner to provide you with a paper receipt to assist as a visual reminder of your prescription. You will still need to take your Medicare Card and any other concession cards with you when you visit a participating Pharmacy.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you have any further questions regarding electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicines, please email eprescribing@health.gov.au
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I am a medical practitioner:

How will electronic prescribing and dispensing work for me?

Electronic prescribing and dispensing will enable electronic transfer of a prescription to a pharmacy for dispensing. Prescriptions will be signed electronically by you, using an individual digital certificate and transferred electronically by your prescribing software.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you have any further questions regarding electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicines, please email eprescribing@health.gov.au

I am a pharmacist:

How will electronic prescribing and dispensing work for me?

Electronic prescribing and dispensing will enable electronic transfer of a prescription from a prescriber to your pharmacy. The prescription information will then be available to use to dispense the medicine for your patient. This streamlined process will reduce the manual processing involved with dispensing a prescription, allowing you to focus on professional pharmacy services.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you have any further quesions regarding electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicines, please email eprescribing@health.gov.au

I am a software vendor:

As a Software Vendor, what will I need to do?

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia are working in conjunction with the National eHealth Transition Authority (NEHTA) to develop guidelines identifying technical requirements and standards. When these principles and guidelines are developed, changes will be required to existing clinical software to ensure systems comply with requirements.

What are the standards?

Solutions should utilise existing standards and demonstrate progress towards compliance with NEHTA's eHealth interoperability framework, which establishes common eHealth concepts, principles and standards to promote and enable interoperability across the health sector. The Australian Government has invested in a Public Key Infrastructure solution, and depending on the environment in which the ePrescribing solution will operate it may be necessary to apply Medicare Australia's PKI solution.Top of page

How does electronic prescribing and dispensing link with the work undertaken by the National eHealth Transition Authority (NEHTA)?

NEHTA have established an eHealth interoperability framework which all Australian Government Health Departments have endorsed. We would require that any solutions will comply with this framework and seek to utilise appropriate standards as they are introduced. Relevant areas of appropriate standards development are as follows:
  • An Australian medicines terminology which will extend the nationally agreed terminology for all clinical terms used in Australian healthcare, SNOMED CT;
  • Interchange Formats (ePrescribing);
  • Data Interchange standards (HL7);
  • Supply Chain (National Product Catalogue);
  • User authentication;
  • Healthcare identifiers;
  • eHealth privacy and consent;
  • Shared Electronic Health Record.

How will it be integrated in software?

Medicare Australia has developed PBS Online as the eBusiness channel for PBS claiming activity. Any ePrescribing solution must integrate with PBS Online. Medicare Australia's PBS Online solution is provided to pharmacy dispensing software vendors in the form of a Client Adaptor. The Client Adaptor is composed of an Application Programming Interface used to interface between client systems and Medicare Australia and the online claiming for PBS Logic Pack, which allows Medicare Australia to deliver business processes and functionality specific to the PBS.

The electronic prescription would need to be seamlessly integrated into the PBS online claims message forwarded to Medicare Australia by the Pharmacy.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you have any further questions regarding electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicines, please email: eprescribing@health.gov.au
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