First digital community pharmacy system supplier receives grant in Wales

The first awards of grants have been awarded to two digital community pharmacy system suppliers by the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund, set up to support the delivery of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) in Wales.

The grant will help suppliers develop their systems to use the electronic prescription service and receive prescriptions digitally instead of on paper.

It will also help suppliers to introduce new changes to their systems, resulting in paperless delivery and integration when the new NHS Wales app is launched.

PharmacyX and TITAN PMR are the first two companies that have already received the grant and can now begin developing their systems.

Sarah Taylor, Sector Intelligence Lead at Life Sciences Hub Wales, said: “We would like to congratulate PharmaCyx and Titan PMR for helping to deliver EPS in Wales, and welcome further applications from other digital community pharmacy system suppliers.

“Digital prescribing has wide-ranging benefits for patients, staff and the environment, so we look forward to seeing the future results of this funding opportunity.”

The introduction of an EPS in primary care in Wales will make the process of prescribing medicines safer, easier and more efficient for patients and healthcare professionals.

major part of the job Digital Medicines Transformation Portfolio Which is hosted by Digital Health and Care Wales. This will enable prescribers – such as GPs – to send prescriptions electronically A dispenser – such as a community pharmacy – of the patient’s choice.

led by Life Sciences Hub WalesThe Community Pharmacy Systems Innovation Fund, which opened in early April, in partnership with the Digital Medicine Transformation Portfolio on behalf of the Welsh Government, offers three levels of bidding:

• Tier One: Develop and implement necessary changes to the community pharmacy system to enable EPS in Wales based pharmacy through secure patient medication records. This level must be successfully completed before suppliers can apply for Tier 2 and 3 funding.
• Tier Two: To allow paperless procedures at community pharmacies (despite the patient’s right to request paper prescriptions if they so desire).
• Tier Three: To be able to send push notifications to the NHS Wales app to advise that a person’s medicines have been prepared and are ready for collection along with the location of the pharmacy and its opening hours.

Professor Hamish Lang, Senior Officer Responsible for the Digital Medicine Transformation Portfolio, said: “It is fantastic to see this fund growing so rapidly and making its first award just weeks after its launch.

“We look forward to receiving applications from more suppliers in the next funding round so that we can accelerate growth in community pharmacies across Wales.”

The Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund is available to suppliers of digital community pharmacy systems in Wales. It remains open for applications until October 2024, although the organizers reserve the right to close early should all funding be handed over.