REAL time monitoring (RTM) of drugs of dependence has been the subject of many talkfests, but very little action, according to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
In a statement responding to "the courageous decision by former NRL star Matt Cooper to go public about his battle with prescription painkillers," this week, Guild executive director David Quilty said an RTM system was "a vital clinical tool which would enable doctors and pharmacists to identify and support patients with prescription drug addiction issues".
He said the system was first promised in 2010 based on a Tasmanian prototype.
"Coroner's report after coroner's report in states and territories around the country have called for a national real-time monitoring system," Quilty said.
"Six-and-a-half years later and it still has not been rolled out in any other state or territory...this failure must be rectified as a matter of priority with all governments held publicly accountable for implementing the system to agreed, publicly available timeframes."
Quilty went on to say doctors and pharmacists should not be expected to continue working at the front line tackling the prescription drug dependence issue with one hand held behind their backs.
"While a national real time monitoring system is not a panacea, it is a vital tool and needs to be accompanied by increased investment in pain management and rehabilitation support programs," he said.
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