Electronic prescribing to suppress COVID-19

THE EDITOR, Madam:

An open letter to the Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

WE HAVE developed an Internet-based platform called DigiScripts that allows doctors to manage their patients online. The application permits the taking of notes, the maintenance of patients’ health records, the sending of prescriptions, and the ordering of blood tests and imaging studies.

The electronic prescribing aspect, in particular, would be quite useful in the current context of social distancing as it would enable doctors to continue managing patients with chronic illnesses by sending prescriptions without the need for them to physically come in to the doctor’s office.

It could also be used to coordinate the delivery of medication to people in quarantine and/or isolation facilities.

DigiScripts is desirous of offering these services to all the physicians and pharmacies in Jamaica free of cost for the duration of the COVID-19 public-health crisis.

This was communicated to the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in a letter dated March 18, 2020.

The application and its full documentation (including evidence of our compliance with international guidelines for this purpose) have previously been submitted to the minister of health and wellness, the chief medical officer, the permanent secretary, the chief informatics officer, and the legal department in the MOHW.

The technology has been endorsed by the Medical Association of Jamaica, the Medical Council of Jamaica, the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, Sagicor, and Guardian Health.

The team is ready, willing, and able to commence operations immediately and can meet with you and your staff for a demonstration prior to implementation.

Unfortunately, less than a week after our letter was sent, we received a communication issued by the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica stating explicitly that “the Council has not granted permission for electronic prescribing in Jamaica”.

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has given several companies emergency-use authorisation to fast-track the production and deployment of various medicines and technologies to aid in the fight against COVID-19.

DigiScripts is compliant with all local laws and international guidelines. Furthermore, the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2015, which you invoked two weeks ago after declaring Jamaica a disaster zone, was specifically designed to “make new provisions for the management and mitigation of disaster, the reduction of risks associated with the disaster, and for connected matters”.

Our service will support all the current social-distancing protocols for COVID-19 prevention, including doing everything possible to keep our doctors, pharmacists, and other front-line staff safe, while enabling us to continue to care for all the other patients with long-term medical needs.

It is against this background that DigiScripts is asking that you use the authority of your office to grant approval to commence activities. This technology will undoubtedly provide a valid option in safeguarding the health of the nation.

We hope you will accept our offer to partner with the Government of Jamaica to successfully manage the current crisis and eagerly await your response. With regards.

DR LESLIE SAMUELS Managing Director DigiScripts LLC