The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7385 p96
28 January 2006

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News summary

Progress made with ePharmacy services in new Scottish contract

Pharmacists in Scotland have this week started to receive details of how they will access ePharmacy services.

The ePharmacy programme is an essential part of the new community pharmacy contract in Scotland. Access to ePharmacy services — which include the minor ailment, the acute medication and the chronic medication services — will be through pharmacies’ existing computer systems.

Those contractors whose computer system is supplied by AAH Link, Cegidem or Enigma were the first to receive letters explaining how access to ePharmacy services will be authorised.

This includes an electronic point-of-contact reference number and a password. The next step is for the system suppliers to install electronic “keys” that will allow each individual computer to be identified for access to ePharmacy services.

Each of the essential services under the new contract will only begin when the electronic application is available. The first will be the minor ailment service.

The Scottish Executive has produced a check-list of steps that have to be taken by contractors before they can start to provide the service. It will be sent to health boards next week for onward distribution to pharmacy practitioner champions who will, in turn, share the information with pharmacists.

The key points are summarised in the Panel.

Implementation of the new contract will be led by the practitioner champions. They met in Stirling last week. A report of the meeting will appear in next week’s Journal.