The new system, naturally, works to the benefit of the patient, who gets needed medicines more quickly. But it will also accumulate valuable statistics on the need for such medications and the way they are being prescribed.

The system has been linked with the popular MedTech practice management system (PMS), so patient data need not even be re-keyed. Filling in the form is largely a matter of ticking boxes. Other PMS vendors are likely to link their software in, but the special authority system can also be operated through a simple web interface, though this requires patient data to be keyed in each time.

About 1,300 doctors are already using the online system and putting through 2,500 applications a month, Moodie says.

The introduction of online special authorities required a rationalisation of several digital certificate systems which have been in use by medical practices. But this change was probably overdue anyway, Pharmac executive Jan Quin says.