After some difficulties, the e-prescription is scheduled to be introduced on September 1, 2022. According to the association, more than half of the approximately 18,000 pharmacies in Germany can handle electronic prescriptions. However, the e-prescription will not be introduced immediately everywhere.
E-Prescription: Over 10,000 pharmacies are ready
After postponements and problems with data protection, the electronic prescription should be available from September 1, 2022. The Federal Association of German Pharmacists announces that now more than 10,000 pharmacies ready for the e-prescription are (source: aponet.de). That is more than every second pharmacy in Germany. Pharmacies would be “pioneers in digitization in healthcare”.
Whether patients can really redeem an e-prescription from September, remains unclear even a few days beforehand. In the “starting region” of Westphalia-Lippe, it should be possible to issue e-prescriptions in medical and dental practices as well as in clinics. However, the medical profession has opted out of the second “starting region” in Schleswig-Holstein, with the exception of dentists. The reason for this is data protection concerns.
For the Transmission of the prescription data three paths are provided, two of which are digital. Patients can load the Gematik GmbH app “Das E-Rezept” on their smartphone to have electronic prescriptions available on the go. These are then presented in pharmacies. Alternatively, the e-prescription can also be printed out, which contradicts the point at most. In the future, it should also be possible to transfer e-prescriptions to the health card.
This is how the e-prescription works:
E-prescription: Opportunity for online pharmacies
In particular, online providers such as “Shop Apotheke” or “Zur Rose” have high hopes for the e-prescription. Electronic drug prescriptions can easily be sent to online pharmacies since they are already available digitally. Customers, in turn, are less tied to the local pharmacy than they are now.