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ePharmacy Programme Scotland

The basic concept of ePharmacy is to provide electronic transmission of prescriptions between doctors and pharmacists throughout Scotland. However, it also enables pharmacists to work more closely with doctors and patients so that they can take a more active role in patient treatment.

So far the programme includes:

  • eMAS – Minor Ailment Service
  • AMS – Acute Medication Service
  • CMS – Chronic Medication Service (Now available to order)
How does the ePharmacy process work?

The prescribing GP practice will be able to issue a 'master' prescription that will allow the pharmacy to dispense items over a period of time. The GP system will print the GP10/s (master prescription/s) and will send an electronic prescribing message(s) to the central ePharmacy message store and also print a unique reference number (UPN) on the prescription in the form of a bar code.

The patient will then take their prescription to the pharmacy where they are registered. The pharmacy will scan the bar code, which will pull down the associated electronic message. The pharmacy will send an electronic message for each dispensing episode via the ePharmacy message store to Practitioner Services for payment processing (reimbursement). The pharmacy will retain the prescription until dispensing has been completed and then sends the 'master' prescription to Practitioner Services.

The CMS care package will benefit patients by reducing the need to attend a GP surgery whilst ensuring they receive appropriate care during their treatment.

What's next in ePharmacy?

Cegedim Rx currently has six sites at the early adopter stage of CMS, the final module of the ePharmacy programme, and is ready to move forward once NHS Scotland releases CMS.

To find out more about each stage of the ePharmacy Programme for Scotland please click on the links below: