SafeScript, the Australian-first real-time prescription monitoring system rolled out by the Andrews Labor Government, is already saving lives and keeping patients with prescription medication addictions safe from harm.
The cutting-edge system came online in Western Victoria at the start of October and will be rolled out across the state in April next year.
In its first two months, SafeScript has alerted doctors and pharmacists in Western Victoria to almost 3,300 patients at risk of harm or overdose from visiting multiple clinics or pharmacies.
Prescription medicine dependency can happen to anybody, and deaths caused by prescription medicine misuse have outnumbered the road toll in Victoria for the past six years.
In 2017, 414 Victorian lives were lost due to prescription medicine overdoses.
Visiting several different health professionals is one of the ways patients with a dependency are able to obtain an unsafe quantity of medication. SafeScript will ensure health professionals have finger-tip access to real-time information about their patients’ prescription history of monitored medicines.
More than 400 sites across the Western Victoria Primary Health Network catchment are part of SafeScript’s inaugural rollout, at locations including Ararat, Ballarat, Geelong, Maryborough, Stawell, Warrnambool and many more.
SafeScript is monitoring all Schedule 8 medicines such as morphine and oxycodone, and other medicines such as codeine and diazepam.
The Labor Government has invested $29.5 million to implement SafeScript, including training and support for practitioners.
The Labor Government has also rolled out a public awareness campaign aimed at more than 600,000 people in Western Victoria, who can also get free and confidential advice by calling the 24-hour SafeScript Pharmaceutical Helpline on 1800 737 233.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos
“We said SafeScript would save lives and that’s exactly what this cutting-edge program is doing. Prescription drug dependency can happen to anyone and the consequences can be tragic.”
“Now, health professionals can access real-time information about a patient’s prescription history – and discuss with them the risks of using dangerous amounts of prescription medication.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020