Real-time prescription monitoring
Real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) provides vital information about a person’s prescribing and dispensing history for certain high-risk medicines through a digital system.
What is real-time prescription monitoring?
Real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) is a digital health system that provides authorised healthcare professionals with information about a person’s prescribing and dispensing history for certain high-risk medicines (monitored medicines).
Why is RTPM important?
RTPM helps identify clinical risks related to the prescribing, dispensing and use of monitored medicines.
Information provided by the RTPM system, along with clinical assessment, helps prescribers and pharmacists make clinical decisions that promote the safe use of medicines.
What are monitored medicines?
The term ‘monitored medicine’ refers to all medicines that are captured within RTPM and considered a ‘high-risk’ for potential harm or unsafe use. Monitored medicines can include opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and stimulants.
Who can access RTPM?
RTPM is available to authorised prescribers (including medical practitioners, dentists and nurse practitioners) and registered pharmacists. All states and territories have an RTPM system; however, there are some important differences to consider, including:
- Monitored medicines are different for each state and territory
- Variability in the legal requirements for checking RTPM
- The circumstances that trigger a pop-up alert or notification in the RTPM system
Prescribers and pharmacists are encouraged to visit the relevant state or territory health department website for more information and updates.
Resources and Guides
We have a range of resources to help prescribers and pharmacists learn more about how real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) should be used in their practice.
For questions or feedback about our resources, you can email us.
More information
The Australian Digital Health Agency has additional information about RTPM available on their website.
For questions about the RTPM system infrastructure and technical matters contact RTPM@digitalhealth.gov.au
For information about a specific RTPM system including regulatory requirements contact your state or territory health department.