ScriptCheckWA a ‘game changer’ in battle to curb addiction, abuse of controlled medicines

ScriptCheckWA a ‘game changer’ in battle to curb addiction, abuse of controlled medicines

A new electronic checking system is remaining rolled out to medical professionals and pharmacists across WA to help overcome “medical professional buying” for prescription medication.

Medical professional searching is when individuals consult a range of diverse medical doctors to attain prescriptions for drugs such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone and hashish-dependent products.

People medicine will form section of the crackdown, as will a variety of other miscellaneous medications, mostly for soreness and nervousness.

The point out governing administration is hoping to deal with the problem through the new system, ScriptCheckWA, which presents accessibility to information on the movement of controlled prescription drugs all over the clock.

Opioids and other medication on a pharmacy counter.
Medications such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone and cannabis-centered merchandise will be amongst those people currently being carefully monitored.(ABC News: Abby Richards)

The authentic-time databases also improves communication between GPs and pharmacies and lets them to right away detect and set a quit to doctor procuring.

The authorities has been trialling ScriptCheckWA for the past two months with a find team of WA medical professionals.

In a assertion, Health and fitness Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson explained the demo found huge improvements in the way clients could be supported, and medication challenges managed.

‘Rapid identification’ of persons with drug issues

ScriptCheckWA will be rolled out to normal practitioners and local community pharmacies across the state from March 28.

Ms Sanderson explained the system as a “sport changer”.

A pill bottle overturned with pills spilling out of it
The ScriptCheckWA system is being introduced throughout WA later this thirty day period.(Unsplash: Olga DeLawrence)

“The power of the new ScriptCheckWA process is that it now presents well being practitioners fast, secure entry to this facts, as it takes place,” she explained.

“Greater accessibility to this info will guidance swift identification of persons with a drug trouble and aid with their well timed referral into an appropriate drug treatment plan.”

‘The blindfold has been removed’

Epic Pharmacy manager John Forster also expected the program to be a match changer.

“No-a person has had any visibility above the number of health practitioner visits or the quantity of pharmacy visits,” he reported.

“So now the blindfold has been removed and we can see particularly what is occurring. It is considerably safer for the neighborhood.”

Headshot of John Forster in the pharmacy.
John Forster suggests there has been very little visibility about people’s health practitioner appointments and prescriptions in the earlier.(ABC Information: Abby Richards)

Mr Forster explained the achievements of the new procedure would be in its timeliness.

“Up right until now, the [WA] Health Department has been given our facts, but it really is been delayed, whereas this is serious-time checking,” he claimed.

“So, when we dispense a thing, we are instructed right away if the person had it or not experienced it at a further pharmacy.”

The Health and fitness Office will monitor the early outcomes of the system and take into consideration including other problematic prescription medications in the upcoming.