CLYNXX
CLYNXX (founded 17 August 2016) is the UK's official private advanced electronic prescription system. CLYNXX is the largest private electronic prescription system by volume in the UK and EU. By successfully creating the most regulatory compliant advanced electronic signature system and coupling them with regulatory data, CLYNXX allows users to sign up immediately and begin to create prescriptions instantly.[1]
Contents
History
Founding and Incorporation
Clynxx was founded by T.K. Muswizu in July after he realized that the rise of telemedicine would result in the need to send prescriptions instantly to patients electronically. Following a robust regulatory process, CLYNXX became the UK’s official private advanced electronic prescription system. According to Companies House, Clynxx Limited was incorporated in the UK on the 17th of August 2016 to become the first company recorded to be providing regulatory compliant private advanced electronic prescriptions to the healthcare market.[2]
Technology
Advanced Electronic Private Prescription
The UK and EU directive requires systems to be meet all the following requirements in order to be fully compliant: The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, section 219 (Electronic Prescriptions) Electronic prescriptions 219.—(1) This regulation applies to a prescription that is not a health prescription for a controlled drug. (2) A prescription-only medicine is also sold or supplied in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner other than an EEA health professional if— [2] (a)conditions A and B in regulation 217 are not met; but (b)the conditions in paragraph (4) of this regulation and conditions C to E in regulation 217 are met. (3) A prescription-only medicine is also sold or supplied in accordance with a prescription given by an EEA health professional if— (a)conditions B and C in regulation 218 are not met, but (b)the conditions in paragraph (4) of this regulation and conditions A and D to F in regulation 218 are met. (4) The conditions mentioned in paragraphs (2)(b) and (3)(b) are that the prescription is— (a)created in electronic form; (b)signed with an advanced electronic signature; and (c)sent to the person by whom it is dispensed as an electronic communication (whether or not through one or more intermediaries). (5) In this regulation “advanced electronic signature” means an electronic signature that is— (a)uniquely linked to the person (“P”) giving the prescription; (b)capable of identifying P; (c)created using means that P can maintain under P’s sole control; and (d)linked to the data to which it relates in such a manner that any subsequent change of data is detectable. Failure to comply with the above will lead to a breach of regulation 214 (Sale or supply of prescription-only medicines) which is an offense under s.255(1) of the regulations Clynxx discloses some information on how they have created a compliant system on their website.[3]
Products
FreeRx®
Allows prescribers to send an advanced electronic private prescription as a code to patients instantly via email and/or sms. FreeRx® codes (tokens) are accepted at any UK or EU pharmacy of the patient’s choosing for dispensing.
Direct to Pharmacy
Cynxx’s network of pharmacies is ready to provide fast and efficient delivery or collection services nationwide. This includes same-day and next-day delivery. All pharmacies need to be GPhC regulated in order to sign up.
Blood tests
Clynxx also facilitates blood testing services via CQC regulated network of laboratories. In addition, prescribers are able to order tests to be conducted as self tests home kits, home nurse visits, or partner clinic visits (subject to test type and availability)
Patient interface
The Clynxx patient interface allows patients to view their medical records, sync them with their devices e.g. Apple Healthcare
Reception
When Clynxx launched in 2016 there was no other systems provider available to independent practitioners. On launching, many medical services were delighted to be able to provide prescriptions electronically. Some of Clynxx’s early providers included GPDQ (a nationwide private healthcare provider), The Harper Clinic ( a leading UK clinic specializing in women’s health), Bader Medical Institute of London (a cutting edge surgical clinic specializing in obstetrics and gynecology), and many more. Refer to the list on the Clynxx official website. According to Dr Shahzadi Harper of the Harper Clinic : “Every private provider must try this digital prescribing service. The technology is powerful, support is personalised and my patients are always satisfied!” Rekha Dave from The Medical Specialists also had this to say : “CLYNXX is an excellent advanced electronic prescribing service. I am able to support a team of experts with such ease.”[4]
Insurers
Clynxx's arrival caught the attention of the major European private health insurers due to its ability to reduce claims. Some providers have been able to create efficient clinics as a result of being able to provide most of the care and follow on care digitally. Insurance providers have shown interest in the development of the patient-facing interface which Clynxx has not divulged publicly but is claimed to reduce claims by at least 17% through the lifetime of a policy. Which, for insurers, is a big chunk.
Prescribers
Prescribers initially rushed to try out Clynxx. As a result, Clynxx had to limit the number of subscribers temporarily in 2017 which caused dismay to many eager prescribers who wished to create efficient digital clinics. Clynxx re-opened general subscription in March 2018. A spokesperson of Clynxx clarified the temporary limit as “...due to the need to educate other stakeholders such as pharmacies on the regulatory compliant nature of the advanced electronic private prescriptions generated using Clynxx”
Pharmacies
According to Clynxx records, there were at least 200 pharmacies providing delivery services in London in 2019. In early 2021, Clynxx announced via their Twitter account, an official partnership with Tesco Pharmacies nationwide. Shortly thereafter, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) endorsed Clynxx as the UK’s official private advanced electronic prescription system. The NPA boasts of having 80% of independent pharmacies as its members. This endorsement cleared the deadlock that Clynxx had been facing with some other larger chains who that were refusing to recognize Clynxx as regulatory compliant in order to corner the private prescriptions market using an archaic interpretation of the regulation.
Covid-19 Pandemic
As a result of increased demands of its services following the Covid -19 pandemic, Clynxx reduced fees to its users by 50% and then further. During this time, many enterprises finally acknowledged the need for a service like a clinic and began the integration of their systems to benefit from the FreeRx® (advanced electronic prescription) token system and the extensive acceptability of Clynxx prescriptions nationwide.
References
- ↑ "Company Summary:". https://www.npa.co.uk/businesspartners/clynxx-limited/.
- ↑ "Clynxx reduces wait times for patients with new partnership". https://www.pharmacy.biz/clynxx-reduces-wait-times-for-patients-with-new-partnership/.
- ↑ "Electronic Prescription FAQ's". https://www.gpdq.co.uk/faqs/clynxx-faq/.
- ↑ "CLYNXX LIMITED". https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10333306.
