Since July 2023, patients in Germany have had the opportunity to redeem digital prescriptions in pharmacies. The electronic prescription is intended to save unnecessary journeys and time. Since January 2024, prescriptions in digital form have been the nationwide standard for the supply of medicines.
But what innovations do consumers have to prepare for in detail?
How the e-prescription works
The digital recipe is based on a digital recipe code, which is comparable to a QR code.
The code contains all the necessary data for the prescribed medication.
Their owners can redeem e-prescriptions just as easily as common paper prescriptions. The personal health card, a paper printout from the doctor’s office or proof on the smartphone with the “E-Prescription” app serve as a template.
How does using the e-prescription via app work?
In order to use the e-prescription in digital form, access to the “E-prescription” app on the smartphone is required. Smartphone owners can download this app from the Google Play Store or the Apple Store. To access the app, an NFC-enabled electronic health card and the insured person’s PIN are also required.
Interested parties can obtain this data from the health insurance company upon request. The extent to which the health card can already be used for the procedure can be seen from a six-digit access number, which should be noted under a black, red and gold bar under the words “Health Card” in the top right area. Alternatively, those with health insurance are free to redeem digital prescriptions directly at the pharmacy using the electronic health card.
Still valid: prescriptions in paper form
Patients can still receive prescriptions on paper in the doctor’s office. However, from this year onwards the recipe regulations are no longer pink, but white.
There is a special code on the paper prescription that can be read in pharmacies.
The digitally signed prescriptions are valid without a doctor’s signature.
How do patients receive an e-prescription?
After the diagnosis and examination, doctors issue the electronic prescriptions in the doctor’s office or during a video consultation. This electronic prescription contains the prescription code that is required to fill the prescription at the pharmacy. This code can be opened directly in pharmacies. Alternatively, patients can receive a paper printout.
Advantages of the e-prescription
Because the e-prescriptions are forgery-proof, organizational processes in doctors’ practices and pharmacies should be simplified. For patients, e-prescription apps offer the advantage that prescriptions are easily sent to the pharmacies of their choice. This means that prescription holders can immediately find out whether the preparations are available in a particular pharmacy.
In the future, the e-prescriptions will also be enhanced with additional functions such as medication plans or medication reminders. Another extra is interaction controls, which check the compatibility of different drugs. In the future, the e-prescription should also be expanded to include additional medical services such as aids, remedies or home nursing care.
Are doctors obliged to issue e-prescriptions?
Most medical practices are now technically well equipped to issue e-prescriptions. E-prescriptions have been mandatory since January 1, 2024.
Details on the security of e-prescriptions
According to information from the Federal Ministry of Health, the secure telematics infrastructure in the healthcare system is used to transmit e-prescriptions. All data recorded in the e-prescription is encrypted several times during digital transmission and is also stored securely. Additional controls by the Federal Office for Information Security confirm the high level of security of the digital prescription.
2024-01-28 20:08:31