Image-based prescribing, implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, will now end on 31 March 2022. Image-based prescribing is where you scan the paper prescription and send to the pharmacy. Is was a temporary measure provided in 2020 and allowed the pharmacist to dispense the prescription without having the hard copy.

Introduced to support patients, prescribers and pharmacists during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. It removed the need to physically attend the practice or pharmacy to collect the medicines prescribed.

But after 31 March when image-based prescribing stops what would be the most appropriate way for prescribing during a telehealth consultation? 

Electronic prescribing is an initiative of the National Health Plan, and although it has been available for only 2 years, the solution was rolled out quickly in 2020, partly to support telehealth consultations and to help protect patients and healthcare providers from infection. 

Although it seems that electronic prescribing can be a perfect solution for telehealth consultations particularly when image-based prescribing terminates, there are some issues ahead for electronic prescriptions. Currently not all vendors have updated their software to enable an escript to be generated and not all pharmacies are able to dispense an escript. This is of concern in some small towns where there is only one practice and one pharmacy and hence e-prescribing would not be possible the community if they don’t have access to the latest software. 

Are there other alternatives?

Doctors may still be able to fax a copy of the paper prescription to the patient’s pharmacy of choice in some jurisdictions. They must then arrange for the timely delivery of the original paper prescription to the pharmacy. 

If the patient prefers to receive the legal paper prescription, it will need to be posted to them. 

The College will continue to advocate for the barriers to the nationwide implementation of e-prescribing to be removed to provide convenience, security and privacy for patients and prescribers.

References

1. Prescriptions via Telehealth – State and Territory Rules, https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/01/prescriptions-via-telehealth-state-and-territory-rules_0.pdf.  Department of Health, Australian Government.

2. Fact Sheet – National Health Plan A Guide for Prescribers. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/03/covid-19-national-health-plan-prescriptions-via-telehealth-a-guide-for-prescribers_0.pdf. Department of Health, Australian Government.