§ 19. Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the use of bar coding to reduce prescription fraud. [38693]
§ Mr. MilburnWe have received 3 letters, two supporting the use of barcodes and one against. Barcodes would primarily be used to aid the electronic transmission of prescription data. A draft policy document and appraisal framework for electronic data interchange for prescriptions was issued for consultation by the National Health Service Executive on 21 October 1997. A final version will be issued in the near future.