About the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme
Published on 09 October 2025
The Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) programme focuses on revolutionising the prescribing and dispensing process in Scotland.
‘To improve efficiency within Primary Care settings and improve the patient experience by implementing a digital solution for prescriptions across NHS Scotland’
The new process will ultimately replace the paper prescription with a digital solution. We will achieve this by developing an end-to-end digital solution for in-hours prescribing from General Practices through to community pharmacy dispensing.
This solution will meet the legislative requirements for the Advanced Electronic Signature and will replace the inked signature.
Following a significant benefits refresh for the Programme over June and July 2025, a suite of measurable and non-measurable benefits has been identified covering:
- Paper
- Processes
- Patient Safety
- Public benefits
- Peripheral benefits
The programme is jointly delivered by NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland in collaboration with stakeholders.
Please have a look at our Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) Programme Animation.
DPDP newsletters
We produce a regular newsletter which provides updates on DPDP. If you would like to join our distribution list please contact NSS.digitalprescribing@nhs.scot.
Click the links below to access previous editions of the newsletter.
Upcoming events
There are currently no upcoming events. Please check back later.
Get in touch
To find out more about the on-going work please contact NSS.digitalprescribing@nhs.scot