Electronic prescription signatures plan
Consultation has started on a proposal to change the law throughout the UK to allow prescriptions to be signed electronically. The law needs to change because prescriptions can only currently be signed in ink and this precludes electronic prescription transmission.
The plan is to amend the Prescription
Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 so that electronic prescriptions can be signed with advanced electronic
signatures (AES), ie, ones that are uniquely linked to the signatories.
An AES is also capable of identifying the signatory, is created using
means that can be maintained under the signatory’s sole control
and is linked to the data to which it relates in such a manner that any
subsequent change of the data is detectable.
Comments on the proposed law change can be sent to Roy Drepaul, Medicines
and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms
Lane, London SW8 5NQ (e-mail roy.drepaul@mhra.gsi.gov.uk) until 29 October.
Before NHS prescriptions can be transmitted electronically, amendments
will also need to be made to relevant NHS legislation for England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
The advanced electronic signature proposal does not apply to prescriptions
for Schedule 1, 2 or 3 Controlled Drugs. In March 2003, the Home Office
consulted on proposals to allow all details except signatures to be generated
by computer on prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs. Amendments to
the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 are awaited. |
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