MORE Australians are dying from pharmaceutical prescription opioids than from heroin overdoses, according to data revealed in Fairfax reports yesterday.
The Pharmacy Guild has reacted to the new information, saying it reinforces the urgent need for a "nationally consistent mandated system for real-time reporting of controlled drugs".
Despite a succession of coroners across the country sounding the alarm on these overdose deaths, no national system has been implemented, with Guild Vic branch president Anthony Tassone saying, "doctors and pharmacists should not be expected to continue working at the front line tackling the prescription drug dependence issue without the full knowledge that real-time recording would provide".
Tassone noted that Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt "recently committed to progressing this issue," with the Guild in full support of any measures introduced.
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