The RACGP welcomes the recent developments in the e-prescribing arena. Electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) and secure individual electronic health records are at the top of the national e-health agenda and once adopted should deliver significant benefits to general practitioners and our patients.

"The RACGP supports e-prescribing, which delivers considerable benefits to GPs and other medical practitioners" said Dr Chris Mitchell RACGP President.

"Our patients will benefit from reduced medication errors, ease of obtaining repeat and refill prescriptions. GPs will save time in the prescribing process, receive immediate feedback when a script or repeat has been filled and with a patient's permission, be able to view their consolidated medication record."

General practitioners who adopt e-prescribing will be able to:

-Reduce medication errors through electronic downloads by pharmacists
-Reduce script forgery and doctor shopping
-Receive immediate feedback from the Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions exchange when your script has been downloaded at a pharmacy
-Receive the same immediate feedback from the ETP exchange when a repeat/refill script has been downloaded at a pharmacy
-View scripts from other prescribers in a consolidated medication record (where authorised by patients)
-manage medication better for transitions of care (specialists, allied health, community, aged care, hospitals)
-Access medication compliance data (where authorised by patients)
-Reduce red tape
-Save up to a minute per consult when prescribing is managed electronically…