About Canberra Script

This page explains how you can use Canberra Script in your health care practice.

Harm minimisation

Use Canberra Script when prescribing or dispensing monitored medicines. A prescriber or pharmacist can use Canberra Script to look up information for any ACT patient.

All health professionals who prescribe or dispense monitored medicines should use Canberra Script. This will help you give safe and effective health care to your patients.

Canberra Script does not prevent health professionals from prescribing or dispensing monitored medicines.

The system will make it easier for you to see unusual patterns of prescribing and dispensing. This is helpful to start conversations on the safe and effective use of monitored medicines. It can help you link patients to higher levels of support.

Canberra Script is not intended to disadvantage patients. Abruptly stopping treatment in patients who have been taking high-risk medicines over a long period may be unsafe for the patient.

Voluntary for health professionals

The use of Canberra Script is voluntary for health professionals.

Chapter 6A of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 authorises recording patient information in Canberra Script.

Patients cannot opt out of this information being recorded.

Approvals

Canberra Script does not replace the need to apply for Chief Health Officer (CHO) approval to prescribe controlled medicines.

You must have CHO approval before prescribing a controlled (schedule 8) medicine.

You must have CHO approval for:

• continuing treatment
• treatment that continues for more than 2 months
• a patient who is drug dependent.

Interstate health professionals

Eligible interstate health professionals can register to use Canberra Script.

Opioid maintenance treatment dosing information

Canberra Script is not a dosing tool for opioid maintenance treatment (methadone or buprenorphine).

Never use Canberra Script 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.

Some pharmacies may record supplies of methadone as one complete monthly prescription. Other pharmacies may record multiple single doses per month.

The opioid maintenance treatment recorded in Canberra Script may not be what the patient has taken.