Due to cease 31 December the Commonwealth has announced that image-based prescribing arrangements will continue to 31 March 2022. Introduced as part of the National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, ‘image-based prescribing’ is an interim arrangement while electronic prescribing capabilities are being developed. 

Electronic prescribing is now widely available nationally, with over 83% of prescribers, and over 98% of pharmacists issuing and dispensing electronic prescriptions. The Commonwealth Government has stated the decision to extend image-based prescribing is to provide an emergency option for exceptional circumstances where electronic prescribing or other mechanisms cannot be used, particularly where communities continue to be affected by state-wide COVID-19 lockdowns. 

Factsheets on the supply of prescriptions via telehealth for prescribers and dispensers will be shortly updated to reflect the new image-based prescribing cessation date. 

For more information about electronic prescribing visit the College web page.