From 28 October 2021 relevant health practitioners will be required to check QScript for patient records before:

• prescribing a monitored medicine for a patient
• dispensing a monitored medicine for a patient
• giving a treatment dose of a monitored medicine for a patient.

The Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 specifies penalties that can be imposed if health practitioners do not take reasonable steps to check QScript when required. There will be exceptions in some circumstances, including when treating patients in an emergency.

Health practitioners will be supported as they integrate QScript into their practice and become familiar with their legislative responsibilities.

Download the Remember to check QScript poster

To comply with mandatory changes to the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 taking effect very soon, health practitioners in Queensland must ensure they complete training in QScript.  

QScript is the Queensland Government’s real-time prescription monitoring system. The following health practitioners are strongly encouraged to register now for QScript:

• medical practitioners
• pharmacists
• nurse practitioners
• endorsed midwives
• dentists
• podiatric surgeons and endorsed podiatrists.

There are significant financial penalties under the Act for not using the QScript system to check for appropriate medications use.

The Act states:

Failure by a prescriber or dispenser to check the database before prescribing or dispensing a monitored medicine is an offence with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (currently $2,669).

Not using the QScript system may also significantly impact our most vulnerable patients.

Medicines captured by QScript
QScript captures a comprehensive list of medicines that have a recognised therapeutic use but may also present a high risk of physical, mental and social harm. The Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 refers to these medicines as ‘monitored medicines’ which includes:

• all schedule eight medicines (e.g. opioids, alprazolam, nabiximols, dexamphetamine)
• the following schedule four medicines:
• all benzodiazepines
• codeine
• gabapentin
• pregabalin
• quetiapine
• tramadol
• zolpidem
• zopiclone.

QScript will be integrated into GP prescribing software.

What do prescribers need to do? 

1. go to the QScript site to read more information about QScript
2. register for QScript – you will need your Ahpra number, prescriber number and preferred email address
3. visit the QScript Learning Portal - unfortunately you’ll need to set up a separate account with the learning portal and follow the learning requirements
4. view webinar recording: QScript training session for medical doctors Zoom webinar by Dr Susan Ballantyne and Nicolette Ellis.

Registering now means health practitioners will be ready to log in and use QScript when it goes live.