Real Time Prescription Monitoring Peak Body Reference Group and Public Consultation
The NSW Government is introducing Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) of certain medications that have the potential to cause dependence and be harmful. These are, specifically, schedule 8 medications, which include opioids, psychostimulants, some cannabis-based medicines and some benzodiazepines.
RTPM will allow doctors, pharmacists, and some NSW Ministry of Health staff to monitor people’s prescription history, in order “to ensure the supply of prescription medicines is safe for you”.
The NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 will need to be amended in order to allow this sharing of personal details and health records.
What we have done so far
In November, HCNSW, painaustralia, and NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) advised NSW Health that public consultation is needed before proceeding with any changes to these regulations.
Have your say now
On 17 December 2020, NSW Health announced a public consultation into changing the amendments Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008. The consultation period will remain open for 2 months until Monday, 15 February 2021.
HCNSW is disappointed that this consultation is being announced just before the Christmas and New Year shut-down. Should you or your organisation require more time to prepare your feedback, NSW Health has said that they are happy to accept requests for an extension of time.
You can make your voice heard in two ways
1. Make your own private submission to NSW Health:
Details of the consultation, including a consultation paper, are available on the NSW Government Have Your Say website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/real-time-prescription-monitoring-rtpm.
The consultation period will remain open for 2 months until Monday, 15 February 2021.
2. Contribute to our HCNSW response
HCNSW supports any measures that will increase patient safety and reduce harm to people. We are concerned, however, that these changes will result in increased sharing of people’s personal health information, without their consent. We also know that many people have difficulty accessing pain management services and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. If RTPM is introduced without increased investment in these services, we are concerned that more people will be at increased risk of harm, if they are unable to access their current medications.
HCNSW will be preparing a response to these changes. We will hold an online consultation in January with interested consumers and organisations to help inform our response. Please register below if you would like to be part of this consultation.
