With Tasmania and Victoria the only states to act six years since the Federal Government established a non-compulsory real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) system, ScriptWise said it is calling for the adoption of a national mandatory system on International Overdose Awareness Day today.
Close to four people die every day in Australia from drug overdose, according to the Penington Institute, with more than 80% of these deaths linked to prescription medication.
ScriptWise highlights, and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia agrees, that a fragmented system whereby only two states out of all Australian states and territories are committed to a mandatory system represents a fail for those people dependent on or misusing prescription medication.
"Prescription medication misuse is reaching epidemic proportions in Australia. We need to act now," said ScriptWise ceo Bee Ismail.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia echoes ScriptWise's call.
"For too long, the tragedy of overdose deaths has been a scourge in our society, with coroners around the nation lamenting the lack of action," said Guild national president George Tambassis.
"It is high time for an effective real-time monitoring system to be in place across Australia because, quite simply, it will save lives."
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