The information in ScriptCheckWA forms part of the Drugs of Addiction Record, defined in Section 88 of this Act.
The Act includes penalties for accessing and using information in the Drugs of Addiction Record in a manner that is non-compliant with the legislation.
When are health practitioners permitted to access a patient record in ScriptCheckWA?
Prescribers and pharmacists are only allowed to view
records of their own patients in ScriptCheckWA. Records can be viewed for the
purpose of ensuring it is safe and appropriate to prescribe or dispense a
monitored medicine for the patient.
Do prescribers and pharmacists have to use ScriptCheckWA?
Initially, use of ScriptCheckWA, when prescribing or
dispensing a monitored medicine, will be voluntary.
However, there will be a requirement for prescribers
and pharmacists to register to use ScriptCheckWA. In other words, prescribers
and pharmacists must be able to review their patient’s record in
ScriptCheckWA, even if they choose not to do so.
As part of any investigation into health
practitioner non-compliance with the rules around prescribing and dispensing
monitored medicines, the Department of Health will check whether the prescriber
or pharmacist viewed information about their patient in ScriptCheckWA.
Protecting patient privacy
Information in ScriptCheckWA is personal health
information and is subject to the privacy principles applicable to all
information of this type.
Every time a health practitioner or an authorised
officer at the Department of Health views a patient record in ScriptCheckWA, the
access event is automatically logged by the system. Access logs are unable to be
changed or deleted.
The Department of Health will monitor access logs to
ensure ScriptCheckWA is not being accessed or used inappropriately.
Keeping ScriptCheckWA records secure
ScriptCheckWA uses data encryption whenever
information is transferred or stored.
Before a health practitioner or authorised officer
at the Department of Health can view a person’s information in
ScriptCheckWA, they must log on to the system using multi-factor authentication.
Can patients access information held in ScriptCheckWA?
The information is ScriptCheckWA is intended for use
by clinicians.
If a patient wants to see information about
themselves in ScriptCheckWA, they should contact the Freedom
of Information Coordinator at the Department of Health.
Will data in ScriptCheckWA be used for research and planning?
The Medicines
and Poisons Act 2014 allows de-identified information
collected in accordance with this Act, which includes the information in
ScriptCheckWA, to be used for research and planning.
Any use of data from ScriptCheckWA for research
would need to be in accordance with the WA
Health Research Governance Framework.
How does the Department of Health use information in ScriptCheckWA?
The Department will use information in
ScriptCheckWA:
- To routinely monitor for
prescriber compliance with the regulatory requirements for prescribing monitored
medicines, including prescriber compliance with the Schedule
8 Medicines Prescribing Code (Word 370 KB).
- To inform decisions when
administering the Medicines
and Poisons Act 2014 (external site), such as recording a person as
a Drug Dependent Person or an Oversupplied Person or issuing a prescribing
authorisation for a Schedule 8 medicine.
- As part of investigating
incidents relating to the prescribing and dispensing of monitored medicines.
Choosing not to prescribe or dispense a monitored medicine
Monitored medicines have a role in the management
and treatment of many medical conditions. Each individual health practitioner
has a responsibility to determine the clinical appropriateness of prescribing or
dispensing a monitored medicine. The implementation of ScriptCheckWA does not
change this responsibility. ScriptCheckWA provides timely and accessible
information to health practitioners to support this responsibility.
ScriptCheckWA does not stop prescribers or
pharmacists from prescribing or dispensing a monitored medicine to their
patient. The system provides information to health practitioners to facilitate
safer clinical decisions in relation to the use of monitored medicines.
Abruptly ceasing or decreasing a patient’s
treatment with a monitored medicine without appropriate ongoing support or
treatment may cause serious patient harm. The ScriptCheckWA learning modules,
available at NPS MedicineWise Learning,
include training to assist with open and honest conversations between patients
and health practitioners about monitored medicines.
More information
Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Mailing address: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849
Phone: 9222 6883
Email: MPRB@health.wa.gov.au