The effort to reduce abuse of prescription drugs has gotten the attention of
the Australian federal government. The federal and state governments are working on electronic tracking systems in which drug abusers can be detected so that prescriptions are not issued to people who have a history of obtaining an excessive amount of legal drugs or of drug trafficking. However, there is some confusion over exactly what each government agency is doing in the area of centralized pharmacy records.
In February 2012, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek announced a federally funded $5 million e-health system that will create a national database for real-time monitoring of addictive drug prescriptions. The database will enable state and territory health professionals to access a central source of prescriptions records. The database will help end the practice of people getting prescriptions filled by different doctors to avoid detection. Two common practices among drug abusers, especially those seeking painkillers, is going from doctor to doctor to obtain prescriptions legally or submitting forged prescriptions. In the new system, each time addictive drugs are sold, the prescription is recorded in the database that pharmacists and doctors can access as needed.1
As of October, 2012 the national database is still under construction.2 The system will capture data on prescriptions for addictive drugs like methadone, codeine, oxycodone and other Schedule 8 drugs. The new e-health system is an opt-out system, which gives doctors or the government the power to deny removal of anyone’s records, if the person is believed to be doctor shopping, drug trafficking or abusing drugs. Pharmacists can choose to restrict access to drugs, while doctors can check for medications the patient has received in the past before writing a new prescription.
Closing the Information Gap
There are other systems currently in place, but they have notable limitations. For example, the Department of Health and Ageing implemented the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system. The PCEDR allows consumers to maintain a secure electronic medical record that only health professionals and the patient can access. However, this is an opt-in system, meaning consumers must agree to participate, and there is no automatic registration.
Private health prescription services exist also, including eRX and Project Stop, which focuses on pseudoephedrine products. The array of these types of services may be a bit confusing, but a single national service tying all pharmacies and drug dispensing units together will be welcomed and of benefit to pharmacists, doctors and even employers. Though prescriptions are currently recorded in a national computerized program, a pharmacist does not have access to information that tells him or her a patient recently had a prescription filled. By closing the information gap, it will be more difficult for people to have prescriptions filled for drugs they should not be getting. The finalized version of the national system will operate in real time.3
The Ultimate Goal: Stopping Prescription Drug Abuse
The full implementation of the database system should reduce some drug abuse. In addition, employers will benefit through health system cost reductions since unnecessary or illegal prescriptions will not be filled. The types of drugs monitored by the system are many of the same ones that drug screening tests detect. The national database is another steps towards ending prescription drug abuse, which is a problem employers regularly deal with in the workplace. Powerful prescription drugs are just as dangerous as illicit drugs, so anything that can be done to limit their abuse is welcomed.
Mediscreen (http://mediscreen.net.au/) offers high quality onsite drug and alcohol screening services. The services include access to a portal that enables employers to manage their drug and alcohol testing program online.
References
1 Tindal, Suzanne. (2012, February 17). GPs tick real-time drug database. Retrieved from ZDNet: http://www.zdnet.com/gps-tick-real-time-drug-database-1339331938/
2 Work continues on scheme to curb prescription abuse. (2012, October 23). Retrieved from ABC News – Australia: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-23/progress-claims-in-scheme-to-curb-doctor-shopping/4328388
2 Dunlevy, Sue. (2011, September 16). Electronic register could cut drug abuse. Retrieved from The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health/electronic-register-could-cut-drug-abuse/story-fn59nokw-1226138257545
