This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New forms to combat prescription fraud
29/09/1998
Guidance will today be issued to the NHS in Scotland about the introduction of new anti-fraud prescription forms. The redesigned forms have been printed for the first time on coloured paper with serial numbers, UV-sensitive markings and microwriting.
Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith said:
"The Government is determined to stamp out prescription fraud. Stolen and forged prescription forms are costing the NHS in Scotland around £1 million every year. Prescription fraud cheats the taxpayer and deprives the NHS of funds for patient care. As well as the cost issue, prescription fraud feeds the illicit drug market. These new forms will help tackle this problem."
The security features of the new form are :
- Coloured forms and UV-sensitive markings will make counterfeiting difficult, especially the photocopying of forms.
- Serial numbers mean forms can be tracked through printing, distribution, prescribing, dispensing and pricing.
- Microwriting on the form will make counterfeiting extremely difficult. The writing can only be seen under a powerful magnifying glass or microscope.
- Anti-tampering devices will stop fraudsters from altering the prescription written on the form by an authorised prescriber. Attempts are sometimes made to erase or amend the prescriber's writing to obtain a different drug or a larger quantity of a drug. The surface of the form will now react to common ink-erasing chemicals.
- The reverse of the form has been redesigned to facilitate checks at the point of dispensing on claims for exemption from payment of the NHS prescription charge. These checks will be introduced in due course.
BACKGROUND
1 The introduction of enhanced security features on NHS prescription forms is part of the anti-fraud strategy common to all UK Health Departments.
2 The Department of Health in London implemented the new security measures on 1 April 1998. In Scotland a later date was set to allow their introduction to be combined with the introduction of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology at the Pharmacy Practice Division (PPD) of The Common Services Agency. The introduction of OCR compatible forms allows for more efficient handling in PPD.
3 All Health Boards will be asked to ensure that every active NHS prescriber in their area receives a supply of the new prescription stationery by the end of January 1999.
4 In Scotland, all NHS prescriptions written on or after 1 February 1999 must be written on the new prescription forms.
News Release: 1952/98
29 September 1998