Electronic (e) prescription practice and its contribution to rational drug use

Abstract

A prescription is a document that is prepared by medically qualified persons for the pharmacist and patient to implement the therapy according to the information and instructions written on it. Even though a prescription was traditionally written on paper in the past, nowadays it is mostly written electronically. Electronic (e) prescriptions are the ones which are prepared entirely electronically by a special software and communication networks of all related format information and routine procedures such as drug supply, reimbursement, registration and follow-up. Turkey initiated this practice in pilot areas in 2012 and the Social Security Institution has made it mandatory for the reimbursed prescriptions except for some limited cases since January 15, 2013. It is predictable that e-prescription would provide substantial benefits to rational use of drugs, in case of successful maintaining of e-prescription practice which can offer important advantages to the physician, reimbursement authority, health center, pharmacist, patient and the other relevant individuals and institutions in many respects like speed, convenience, accuracy etc. as compared to hand-written prescriptions. It is mentioned in various platforms that related individuals need information about this practice that is yet considered new. Introduction of e-prescription practice details and its contributions to rational use of drugs were included in this article.