eRx proposes to enter into a contract which has the purpose of enabling it to make its electronic pharmaceutical prescription exchange system (PES) interoperable with MediSecure's (MDS) PES and vice versa. Clause 14 of the proposed contract, which is the subject of this application, provides that following the introduction of interoperability, eRx and MDS will share equally in the fee which is charged to a pharmacy user and the Commonwealth by the PES to which the pharmacy is connected in respect of each prescription that has originated on the PES of the other party.
On 6 December 2012, the ACCC granted interim authorisation to eRx to allow it to enter into and give effect to a contract with MDS to facilitate interoperability between the parties' electronic pharmaceutical PESs.
Interim authorisation will remain in place until it is revoked or the date the ACCC's final determination comes into effect.
