Fred IT to host national electronic prescription service

Using eRx Script Exchange, the new service will ensure that Australian health professionals and patients continue to have access to a robust, secure electronic prescription network.

According to pharmacist and CEO of Fred IT, Paul Naismith:

“Health professionals and patients have gained substantially from faster and more accurate medication services in the 14 years since Fred launched Australia’s first electronic prescriptions. Doctors, pharmacists and patients will all further benefit from this next phase which streamlines management of the network and encourages ongoing innovation to support health professionals and patients.”

The new service delivers further improvements to all users:

• Prescribers and pharmacies have certainty that electronic prescriptions and SMS will continue without transaction costs
• Pharmacies will no longer have individual invoicing and PBS online payments reconciliation for electronic prescriptions
• Prescribing and dispensing software vendors will receive financial support for compliant electronic prescription solutions and customer services
• Strengthened cyber security posture and greater protections against clinical risk
• Enhanced capacity for all users to innovate and deliver patient-focused improvement

eRx Script Exchange will work with software vendors, prescribers and pharmacies to move to the new arrangements which commence on 1 July 2023.

About Fred IT Group

Fred IT Group is Australia’s largest provider of Pharmacy IT solutions, servicing more than 3000 pharmacies. Fred was launched in 1992 to improve patient outcomes and make it easier for health professionals to run their business. In the 30 years since, Fred has invested in and launched groundbreaking medication safety, management and eHealth technologies, including electronic prescribing, real-time prescription monitoring, cloud- based applications improving medication access and management, and the first digital script list.