The planned introduction of the e-prescription in Germany can be described as a false start. A new attempt is now being made: from September 1, 2022, it should be available in pharmacies nationwide. A first milestone can already be celebrated.
E-Prescription: Germany-wide introduction on September 1st
Actually, the electronic prescription should have been available in Germany long ago, but after a sluggish pilot phase and a stop in March 2022, the next attempt is only now being made. That should start on September 1st E-prescription for cash patients everywhere in pharmacies be redeemable. A gradual introduction is planned until then (source: Gematik).
As a first milestone, the operator Gematik has now announced that 30,000 e-prescriptions submitted so far became. These should then also be settled by the health insurance companies in “a few weeks”, as it is said. The milestone is described as an important step that is to be followed by “many more”. The potential of the e-prescription is great and has not yet fully unfolded.
Just like with a conventional prescription, the E variant can only be issued by a doctor. Patients receive a QR code, which they show in the pharmacy. This QR code is available either digitally in the e-recipes app or on paper. Alternatively, the QR code can also be used to order and deliver the prescribed medication. Patients then do not have to appear in person at the pharmacy.
This is how the e-prescription works:
E-prescription was stopped after criticism
In March, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach described the concept of the e-prescription as immature and “unconvincing”. There is no discernible benefit for either patients or doctorsas Lauterbach suspected in a live discussion with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV).