More digital and better
This will change when you visit a doctor from September 2022
© dusanpetkovic1 / Adobe Stock
Have you ever been upset that the doctor’s prescription first has to be picked up and then lugged to the pharmacy? Starting this month, those two steps could become one.
How often have I been annoyed when I had to pick up one of my repeat prescriptions before work in order to make a quick trip to my favorite pharmacy before starting work. But I may not have to do that in the future – and neither will you. Instead, e-prescriptions are to replace the old printed versions with immediate effect. You can read here how this is supposed to work and what it means for you.
Digitization in medical practices and pharmacies
Medicine at the touch of a button? That actually sounds pretty good. In the future, recipes should be able to be transmitted digitally – and in some cases this is already possible. Since September 1, all pharmacies have been obliged to accept prescriptions not only in paper form, but also in electronic form. This is made possible by an official e-prescription app from gematik GmbH – a national agency for digital medicine – which patients with statutory health insurance can download to view and show their medication prescriptions.
Practices, clinics and pharmacies must therefore also have the necessary technology and software so that it works smoothly. All pharmacies in Germany have already been equipped with this in order to be able to accept e-prescriptions and send them to the health insurance companies. App users receive a code on their mobile device, which they can use to pick up their prescription from the pharmacy. It can either be sent before visiting the pharmacy or shown on site. The telematics infrastructure (TI) is used for this, as reported by the Federal Ministry of Health. This is the platform for health applications in Germany.
What is all this for?
One of the purposes of the e-prescription is to simplify the treatment of a patient by allowing drug interactions to be recognized more quickly. The processes between the participating institutions and the paperwork in the healthcare system are also reduced in this way. Another big plus: Hopefully, distances can be saved. It is possible that the e-procedure means that personal collection from the doctor’s practice is not always necessary, for example when it comes to a repeat prescription.
In addition, the prescription can be handed in at the pharmacy so that the medication (which may still have to be ordered) can be picked up at a later date. A non-binding inquiry can be sent via the app to check whether the medication is actually in stock. Quite handy.
Further developments are already planned
The new system is to be continuously improved, expanded and modernized. For example, with a medication plan that recognizes the interaction of medication and thus protects patients from incompatible combinations. A reminder to take medication should also be introduced. At the moment, the e-prescription can only be used by people with statutory health insurance, but according to the consumer advice center, a version for privately insured people is already being worked on. The technical requirements are currently being worked out between gematik GmbH and the association of private health insurance companies.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, in addition to the e-prescription for prescription drugs, all other services such as remedies or aids and home nursing care should also be able to be gradually prescribed electronically in the future. However, the deadlines for the introduction of further medical and psychotherapeutic prescriptions are stipulated by law. Of course, electronic transmission is particularly helpful for doctor meetings that are already taking place online.
What else is wrong?
While the pharmacies have already been obligated, this is unfortunately not yet the case for contract doctors. An exception applies to the pilot phase of doctors in Westphalia-Lippe and Schleswig-Holstein, as reported by the consumer center. The nationwide switch to e-prescriptions for medical practices and clinics should then come in 2023.
Users need an NFC-enabled electronic health card (eGk) and their insurance PIN, which they receive from their health insurance company. From 2023, the presentation of the eGk should then be sufficient for collection at the pharmacy. However, the procedure can also be used without a smartphone: According to the Federal Ministry of Health, patients can decide whether the access data required for redeeming their e-prescription should be handed over to them as a paper printout in the doctor’s practice. This makes it easier for people without a cell phone, for example, to use the system anyway. In addition, family members can be integrated into the app of a user and receive recipes for children or grandparents, for example.
Sources used: consumer center, Federal Ministry of Health, gematik