The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has applauded incoming reforms that will, for the first time, give patients, GPs, and other prescribers a complete picture of a patient's medicines history.
In the first stage of reforms, the Federal Government will implement requirements ensuring all medicines-related information from online prescribers is made available to consumers and their healthcare providers through their My Health Record.
This will include medicines prescribed and dispensed through online platforms, including the clinical context for prescribing, to help avoid harm to patients due to medication errors, adverse drug reactions, or inappropriate use.
Reforms will also include the design and development of a National Medicines Record using existing digital health capabilities like electronic prescribing, the Active Script List and My Health Record.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the Government's reforms take a measured approach.
"This is a sensible measure to ensure all telehealth providers are held to the same standards as your usual GP," he said.
"Online and on-demand telehealth providers who aren't connected to your usual general practice cannot see your medical history and may not inform other health professionals of what care or prescriptions they provide by adding to your history or your My Health Record.
"Telehealth providers have too often not informed a patients' usual GP, healthcare team, or other telehealth services of the care they have provided or updated a patient's My Health Record.
"This has led to some very bad patient outcomes. Tragically, those have included deaths."
Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler initiated the changes following advocacy by Alison Collins, whose 24-year-old daughter Erin overdosed in 2025 after stockpiling medication prescribed by multiple digital health platforms.
Erin's My Health Record contained warning messages from hospital staff, and her care team had arranged for her to pick up a controlled dose of her medication from the local pharmacy each day.
Dr Wright said communication between services is a cornerstone of patient safety.
"The best way to access care, telehealth or in-person, is with a GP who knows you and your medical history," he said.
"If a telehealth service provides a prescription and there's a risk due to your medical history, your GP knowing about it can save your life.
"Many medications should not be combined, you may have allergies that will lead to an adverse reaction, or you may have a complex condition that requires careful management.
"These changes also go beyond prescribing and will lead to records of dispensing. This means if I write a prescription for a patient, I know they are getting it filled, or if not, can work with them to understand why.
"If well-implemented, GPs and other members of a care team having a clear and up-to-date view of patients' medicines information through a National Medicines Record will make patients safer, reduce hospitalisations, and improve care across the health system.
"We look forward to ensuring the new medicines record makes it easier for GPs and our patients to access the information and high-quality care they need."
