Real-Time Prescription Monitoring: Canberra Script
Canberra Script is the ACT’s real time prescription monitoring system. It helps doctors and pharmacists keep you safe.
Some medicines can harm your health if taken:
- in high doses
- with other medicine.
Doctors check Canberra Script before they write a prescription. Pharmacists check Canberra Script before they give you medicine.
They can see your prescription history and may talk to you about it.
Watch a short video about Canberra Script and how it keeps you safe.
Medicines monitored in Canberra Script
Medicines monitored in Canberra Script are:
- all controlled medicines (schedule 8)
- some prescription-only medicine (schedule 4).
Read more about medicines monitored in Canberra Script.
Details collected
Doctors and pharmacists can see:
- your personal details such as name, address and date of birth
- your monitored medicine history
- approvals from the Chief Health Officer to prescribe controlled medicines.
The system automatically collects your details when a doctor writes a prescription, or a pharmacist gives you medicine. Consent is not required for a treating doctor or pharmacist to view your information in Canberra Script.
Who can see your record
Health professionals involved in your care can see your record in Canberra Script when they:
- prescribe or supply a monitored medicine
- apply for Chief Health Officer approval
- review your monitored medicine history as part of a consultation
- discuss your monitored medicine history with other health professionals involved in your care.
The system records when doctors and pharmacists look at your record.
If health professionals misuse the system, they may:
- get a penalty
- receive disciplinary action.
Read more in the Canberra Script Terms of Use [PDF 284 KB].
Your privacy
Your health information is:
- protected by law
- stored securely.
We collect, access, use and disclose this information for authorised reasons only.
Contact us
If you have concerns about a privacy breach, you can email hps@act.gov.au to file a complaint with the Health and Community Services Directorate.
If a doctor or pharmacist makes a mistake when recording your medicine, you can ask them to fix it or email canberrascript@act.gov.au.