| The return of PBS scripts’ signatures requirements (PD today) has been overturned by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler this morning at APP2023, in his speech to a packed arena.
“This will not be happening. In my view, that directive goes in precisely the wrong direction", Butler said.
“You are embracing digital technology and leverage off those platforms and over the past few years working to make electronic prescribing increasingly a central part of the healthcare system.
“How do I go back to what we had three years ago?”
A spokesperson for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomed the decision to remove the onerous signature requirements.
"The provisions applied under the emergency arrangements proved that the requirement for signatures is unnecessary and burdensome on pharmacists and patients," the spokesperson said.
"The announcement by the Minister for Health Mark Butler is a common sense one which recognises the advances in scripts and pharmacy procedures.
"This is a win-win for patients and the health system."
More details in Monday's issue of Pharmacy Daily.
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