With more and more people dying of prescription drug overdoses in Victoria, the next state budget plan coming down this week will include AU$29.5 Million to create Australia's most comprehensive real-time prescription monitoring system.

"We will be the first state implementing a real-time monitoring system of this scale," said Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy, who says the problem has become more severe than road fatalities.  Last year, Victoria recorded 330 prescription drug overdose deaths, but 252 road accident deaths, and 217 fatal overdoses from illicit drugs.  The system will include Schedule 8 medicines such as morphine and oxycodone at a minimum, but officials also want to consult with doctors about which Schedule 4 drugs ought to be included.

The plan will enable clinicians at 1,900 GP clinics, 1,300 pharmacies, and 200 hospitals to do an on-the-spot check before prescribing or dispensing medicines that are at high risk of misuse.  People identified by the system as problem users would be referred to counseling.  Ms. Hennessy says this can save 90 lives over the next five years.  Annually, there would be 500 fewer people taken to emergency departments for overdoses.