Campaign to stamp out prescription fraud

9/6/04
An increase in reports of prescription fraud has prompted the State Government to implement an awareness campaign for doctors, pharmacists and police.
Statistics reveal a rising trend in the number of forged prescriptions being presented at pharmacies across Western Australia.
Data obtained from the Department of Health and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (WA Branch) showed more than 120 forged prescriptions were presented to pharmacists from January, 2003 to May, 2004. But anecdotal evidence suggests these figures show only part of the picture.
There is also concern that more sophisticated methods are being used by criminals to forge prescriptions.
Health Parliamentary Secretary Sue Ellery said there had been a long history of people attempting to change a legitimate prescription or use a stolen prescription pad to obtain restricted drugs such as pethidine and morphine.
"These methods of prescription forgery tend to result in a limited quantity of drugs being obtained," Ms Ellery said.
"Quite often, amended or modified prescriptions are identified by the pharmacist as fraudulent.
"But it now appears that increasingly sophisticated methods and complex scams have been devised to deceive pharmacists into believing a prescription is valid."
For example, scanners and colour printers are being used by criminals to forge prescription pads in an effort to obtain long-acting preparations of drugs of addiction, to substitute for illicit drugs such as heroin and amphetamines.
"In some of these scams, there is a significant quantity of drug being obtained through many pharmacies," Ms Ellery said.
Pharmacists have also reported increases in the quantity and strength of drugs for which forged prescriptions are being created.
The Poisons Regulations 1965 require a pharmacist to verify the authenticity of a prescription for a drug of addiction with the medical practitioner when they are not familiar with the handwriting.
However, pharmacists are often unable to contact the doctor or are reluctant to do so for a variety or reasons, including not wishing to disturb the medical practitioner or because they feel the issue is trivial.
In turn, many medical practitioners are unaware of a pharmacist's legal obligation to verify the authenticity of a prescription for a drug of addiction.
"Doctors also need to be aware that blank prescription pads have a high street value and therefore must store their pads securely," Ms Ellery said.
The Government's awareness and education campaign would be designed to heighten awareness of the prevalence of forged prescriptions in the community.
The campaign will initially use newsletters, brochures and workshops to alert pharmacists, doctors and police and target the following areas:

• the rising incidence of forgeries and the types of scams being used;
• the legal requirements under the Poisons Regulations for verifying a prescription for a drug of addiction; and
• the importance of storing prescription pads securely.

The campaign will also aim to enhance the relationship between pharmacists and police, to ensure that that all forged prescriptions are reported to police immediately and dealt with effectively.
Minister's office - 9220 5000