Supply of PBS medicines now allowed in Queensland through digital image
Friday, 15 March
Queensland has become the latest state to allow the prescribing of PBS medicines through a digital image following an announcement by Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles.
Under this Special Arrangement, which begins Monday 18 May, prescribers can provide a digital image or copy of a person’s prescription following a telehealth consultation to the patient’s pharmacy of choice via fax, email or text message.
PSA Queensland Branch President Chris Campbell welcomed the announcement which brings Queensland in-line with all the other states and territories when it comes to digital image prescribing.
“This announcement will greatly decrease workload for pharmacists who will no longer be required to manually process prescriptions,” he said.
“The process for pharmacies to receive a patients prescription from the prescriber will now be a lot quicker and provides Queenslanders with more options to reduce the need to leave their home during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This eliminates the issue of patients having to wait sometimes days for paper prescriptions to reach the pharmacy following a telehealth consultation.
“It is important Queenslanders continue to receive timely healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and I congratulate the Queensland Government on making this necessary change.”
Digital image prescriptions will remain in place until the end of September 2020 with paper prescriptions also available during this period like they have always been.
For more information please visit the dedicated PSA COVID-19 microsite
Media contact: Chris Campbell PSA Queensland Branch Manager 0422 845 836
