eCMI enables pharmaceutical companies (Sponsors) to have their CMIs widely disseminated across all points of distribution in Australia allowing every user to see exactly the same version of the medicine information in the same standardised format. Sponsor approved CMIs are carefully processed within a rigorous quality assurance (QA) system and version control is carefully maintained electronically. Without the printed leaflet in the pack, the Sponsors reduce the risk of out of date medicine information in the marketplace or of recalls or repackaging associated with significant changes to the CMI.

Benefits

• The single point of distribution ensures that only one version of medicine information is distributed to pharmacies throughout Australia
• Sponsors can easily update their data – they simply submit a document for processing and, within a month, it is distributed to the pharmacy dispensing software vendors; In the near future we will begin rolling out real-time delivery
• When important changes such as critical safety updates are needed, Sponsors can rest assured the most current medicine information is rapidly made available in the marketplace
• The healthlinks.net service provides comprehensive version control
• Our database is fully integrated into the dispensing software systems to enable pharmacists to access and print CMIs within the normal dispensary workflow
• The electronic distribution system we offer enables Sponsors to meet the requirements legislated by the TGA
• The system requires minimal medicine information handling and Sponsor resources

What makes the service unique
healthlinks.net and the Electronic Distribution Working Group (EDWG) have built an infrastructure comprising legal agreements and procedure plans to which all stakeholders are a party. The infrastructure ensures CMI is converted into a document that complies with the industry’s Usability Guidelines1, and then delivered within timeframes decided by the Sponsors. The software vendor receives the CMI and distributes it according to those timeframes.

Additionally, the eCMI is fully integrated into in the pharmacy dispensing software packages so it can be readily accessed during dispensing.

The service was developed – and is continuously improved – through extensive industry consultation. As a key part of the service, we proactively review the CMI documents to ensure accuracy. All these factors come together to produce a service delivery model that assures currency of medicine information in the marketplace.

1 Sless, D and Shrensky, R, 2006, Writing about Medicines for People 3rd edition - Usability Guidelines for Consumer Medicine Information, Australian Self-Medication Industry