Cannabis education company honahlee has unveiled a new digital platform designed to give patients greater control over their prescriptions while potentially saving them thousands of dollars annually on their medication.
The platform, named Scripts, allows medicinal cannabis patients to upload an e-script, browse a list of pharmacies, and compare prices, shipping times and product availability before placing an order for pickup or home delivery.
Honahlee said patients are "guaranteed to find their medication at the recommended retail price (RRP)".
Scripts also includes a pharmacy review feature, allowing patients to read feedback from others and submit their own.
Co-founder and chief executive Tom Brown said Scripts, which had a soft launch in May ahead of its full rollout this week, brings transparency to the ordering process and gives "a voice" to the medicinal cannabis patient community.
"Cannabis stigma has resulted in niche clinics, dispensaries and a limited number of pharmacies providing access to medicinal cannabis, often at a high price and in many cases more focussed on profit or data collection than patients," Brown said.
"It is always concerning when patients tell us they are forced to use a specific pharmacy or never see their prescription. Via Scripts, patients get full transparency on product pricing, availability, pharmacy service and quality, have access to their prescription repeats and are never locked into the service."
Honahlee said the platform hands patients complete control over their scripts and medication, with the added ability to rate and review their pharmacy experience.
Since the soft launch, 15 pharmacies have joined the platform — with another 10 in the pipeline — and 2,000 orders have been placed.
Honahlee has also formed partnerships with prescribers and clinics to direct patients toward the portal.
Pharmacist Arash Taji, owner of Victoria-based Prahran Amcal, said Scripts has enabled the business "to manage and dispense medication in an efficient manner".
"We speak with our patients, but Scripts has tools baked in to improve communication flow which enhances our ability to support patients with their clinical needs related to their health and prescriptions," he said.
Honahlee confirmed that patients using the platform will not be charged a credit card fee, are guaranteed access to medication at RRP, and are free to leave the Scripts system at any time.
A portion of revenue from orders placed through the platform will also be directed to honahlee's giving back program.
Pharmacies, doctors or clinics interested in partnering with Scripts can contact honahlee at sc*****@**********om.au.
