Crackdown on drug shoppers

NEW national real- time monitoring of some prescription pain medicines will help crack down on addicts who doctor shop.

The software will alert doctors and pharmacies to frequent requests for strong drugs such as morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl, Health Minister Greg Hunt said yesterday.

“With 600 deaths a year it’s time to take a real stand,” he said. At present there is no means of seeing whether people are prescription shopping.

The Government is spending $ 16 million to roll out the program in the next 18 months.