What is Canberra Script

Canberra Script is a new online, real time prescription monitoring (RTPM) system being implemented in the ACT to reduce harm and preventable deaths in the community by supporting the safe and effective use of monitored medicines.

Each Australian jurisdiction will have their own local version of the national RTPM system with core features and functionality to enable national consistency. Canberra Script is intended to support clinical decision-making and ensure medicines are used safely and effectively by enabling health practitioners to better identify and manage patients who may be at risk of harm or dependency.

It is designed to detect people who are at risk of harm from certain medicines. The increasing harm from certain high-risk prescription medicines such as opioids and benzodiazepines is a public health concern from a safety and efficacy perspective. Patients cannot opt out of having their information collected in Canberra Script. 

You can access the Canberra Script website at https://www.canberrascript.act.gov.au.

Canberra Script replaces previous systems

Canberra Script replaces the Drugs and Poisons Information System (DAPIS) Online Remote Access (DORA) RTPM system for health practitioners launched by the ACT Government in 2019.

Canberra Script has enhanced features and functionality for health practitioners over ACT DORA including:

  • information about some Schedule 4 (prescription only) medicines (in addition to Schedule 8 (controlled) medicines
  • information about prescribing events from medical practices (in addition to dispensing events from pharmacies)
  • real time notifications to prescribers and pharmacists via integrated practice software that appear when prescribing or dispensing a monitored medicine to a person
  • real time alerts in the Canberra Script portal that are triggered where the patient’s treatment signals a risk of harm to them, or the prescription is not authorised
  • a secure and streamlined self-registration process for prescribers and pharmacists, and 
  • the ability to apply for CHO approval to prescribe controlled medicines directly via Canberra Script.

What is the purpose of Canberra Script?

Canberra Script is intended to support clinical decision-making and ensure medicines are used safely and effectively by enabling health practitioners to better identify and manage patients who may be at risk of harm or dependency.

The purpose of Canberra Script is to reduce harm and preventable deaths in the ACT community by supporting the safe and effective use of monitored medicines.

ACT Health’s vision for Canberra Script is that prescribers and pharmacists use Canberra Script to provide more safe and effective care for ACT consumers.

When to use Canberra Script

A prescriber or pharmacist will use Canberra Script to look up information for any ACT patient when prescribing or dispensing monitored medicines. ACT Health strongly encourages all health practitioners who prescribe or dispense monitored medicines to use Canberra Script as part of their clinical practice to support them provide more safe and effective care for their patients.

Canberra Script is not intended to disadvantage patients where there is a clinical need for a medicine and where a prescriber is authorised to prescribe a medicine for a person. Abruptly stopping treatment in patients who have been taking high-risk medicines over a long period is contrary to patient safety.

Taking a patient-centred approach and focusing on harm minimisation, safety and efficacy of medicines use can help frame discussions with patients in a non-confronting way. When having conversations with consumers about their medicines, it is important to use non-stigmatising terms and avoid using language such as ‘misuse’ and ‘abuse’ and instead use terms such as ‘safe’ and ‘effective use’ and ‘reducing harm’.

FAQs 

Is Canberra Script mandatory for health practitioners?

No. The use of Canberra Script is voluntary for health practitioners. The information recorded in Canberra Script is authorised by Chapter 6A of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 and therefore patients cannot opt-out of this information being collected. ACT Health strongly encourages all health practitioners who prescribe or dispense monitored medicines to use Canberra Script as part of their clinical practice to support them provide more safe and effective care for their patients. The ACT Government will conduct an evaluation of Canberra Script performance after 12 months. The evaluation will also review whether to mandate practitioner use of Canberra Script. Prescribers will still be required to seek CHO approval prior to prescribing a controlled (schedule 8) medicine for continuing treatment or where treatment is to continue greater than two months, or where the patient is drug dependent. 

Do prescribers still need to apply for CHO approval to prescribe controlled medicines?

Yes. The use of Canberra Script does not replace the need to apply for CHO approval to prescribe controlled medicines. CHO approval is required prior to prescribing a controlled (schedule 8) medicine for continuing treatment or where treatment is to continue greater than two months, or where the patient is drug-dependent.

Can eligible interstate health practitioners access Canberra Script?

Yes. Eligible interstate health practitioners can register to access the Canberra Script system as a clinical support tool when treating patients.

Will Canberra Script contain opioid maintenance treatment dosing information?

No. Canberra Script is not designed to be a dosing tool for opioid maintenance treatment (methadone or buprenorphine). Canberra Script should never be used to confirm a dosing history for a patient. A prescriber or pharmacist should always check with the patient’s dosing site. Pharmacies record dispensing and dosing information for opioid maintenance treatment differently. Information from some dosing centres will not appear in Canberra Script at all. Some pharmacies may record supplies of methadone as one complete monthly prescription, while other pharmacies may record multiple single doses per month. Where Canberra Script shows that opioid maintenance treatment has been dispensed for a patient, the patient may not have actually taken their dose. It is important that prescribers and pharmacists never rely on Canberra Script to confirm a patient’s dosing history to reduce the potential for harmful overdose.

How is data maintained in Canberra Script?

It is important that pharmacists and pharmacy staff enter accurate and complete data in their dispensary systems. Dispensing information displayed on Canberra Script is sourced from pharmacy dispensing software and transmitted via the Prescription Exchange Service and the National Data Exchange. Canberra Script assists clinicians with identifying patients at risk of harm but does not prevent clinicians from prescribing or dispensing a medicine they believe is clinically necessary.

Page last updated on: 23 Feb 2022