The ACT Government has launched Canberra Script – a real time prescription monitoring system medical professionals can use to assess patients’ drug history before prescribing and dispensing some medications.

Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Health, said Canberra Script would address the increasing harms caused by some prescription medications – particularly opioids.

Over the past decade, drug-induced deaths across Australia have been more likely to be due to prescription drugs than illicit drugs. At the same time, the number of drug-induced deaths nationwide involving opioids has more than tripled.

“Prescription medicines can provide relief from pain after an accident or surgery or alleviate the symptoms of diseases or other conditions,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “But medicines also have side effects, and some can cause dependence or other harms.

“It’s important for those prescribing and dispensing medications to know what other medications the patient is on or has recently taken, as some medicines can be harmful when taken in high doses or in combination with other medicines.”

Canberra Script will integrate with the new National Real Time Prescription Monitoring system. In the ACT, Canberra Script will replace the Drugs and Poisons Information System Online Remote Access (known as DORA), which operated since 2019.

“Canberra Script will support medical professionals to make safe and effective prescription decisions,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“The system will also enable healthcare professionals to better identify and support patients who may be at risk of harm or dependency. Canberrans should be reassured that the system will not disadvantage patients who have a clinical need for a medicine.”