AMA backs National Medicines Record
The AMA welcomes the Government’s National Medicines Record as a step to reduce fragmented care and medicine‑related harm. However, to succeed, it must finish the job on interoperability by making standards mandatory so clinical software connects at the point of care.
This is a core part of the AMA’s new interoperability work and reflects our public stance that without enforceable rules, joined‑up care remains a pipe dream.
The AMA supports moves toward a National Medicines Record and encourages a design that is clinician‑curated and computable, using Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) and SNOMED CT‑AU (Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine — Clinical Terms) to ensure medicines information is machine‑readable and safe for decision support.
The AMA supports the National Medicines Record’s exploration of leveraging electronic prescribing, the Active Script List, eNRMC and My Health Record artefacts, with the goal of delivering one consolidated, de‑duplicated medicines view at the point of care.
Doctors want digital tools that lighten workload. AMA member feedback on e‑prescribing shows clinicians value it, but flag persistent software and usability barriers and patient difficulties with repeats and confidence/security. A curated medicines list is viewed positively if it is accurate and integrated. The National Medicines Record must be embedded in GP and hospital software, not added as another portal.
Closing telehealth visibility gaps is essential. Requiring online/telehealth prescribers to upload medicines‑related information to My Health Record strengthens continuity of care and reduces risk — the AMA’s distinct focus is on enforceable interoperability and a computable, curated record that doctors can rely on.
Implementation should align with the department’s publicly advised electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC) systems transition for aged care so we avoid new islands of data as facilities move to electronic charting. We will work with the department and the Digital Health Agency to ensure timelines and vendor conformance settings are reflected in design and rollout.
Finally, the National Medicines Record needs clear stewardship — who curates, who is accountable, and how conflicts/duplicates are resolved. The AMA is calling for these rules to be defined and published upfront so clinicians and patients can trust the record from day one.
