17.10.2023
HOW E-PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE WRITTEN
An explanatory meeting on the introduction of electronic prescriptions was held at the Ministry of Health. During the meeting, the changes that came into effect on October 16 with the amendment and addition of Ordinance No. 4 of 2009 on the terms and conditions for prescribing and dispensing medicinal products were discussed.
In the new texts of the Ordinance, it is stated that medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes (Anatomical therapeutic group A10) and antibacterial medicinal products for systemic use (Anatomical therapeutic group J01) will be prescribed only with an electronic prescription.
"We understand that any innovation is a challenge, but here the objectives of the ministry are clear. Dispensing these two groups of medicines only with an e-prescription will guarantee transparency over the entire process, control over the frequency and improper use without a doctor's prescription, as well as effective tracking of stocks, so that the needs of Bulgarian citizens are ensured in the first place, pointed out the Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Ilko Getov. "If we manage to reduce the use of over-the-counter antibiotics, even by just 5%, that will be a success," added Prof. Getov.
Issuance of an electronic prescription does not cancel a visit to a doctor, as the prescription of medication is carried out after a physical examination. In order to issue an e-prescription, the medical specialist needs to have a computer, a mobile device, an Internet connection and specialized medical software, such are the requirements when working with the National Health Insurance Fund. Crucially, the National Health Information System supports an "offline" mode of operation in which, in the absence of Internet connectivity, events are saved and re-sent when connectivity is restored.
In order to avoid difficulties and facilitate the medical professionals, "Information Service" developed and implemented a free and accessible application - eRx, functioning on mobile phones operating with Andorid and IOS. The developed eRx mobile application is completely free for these devices and is intended to issue electronic prescriptions in situations where the doctor does not have access to a computer with medical software.
A live demonstration of how to work with the application was also made before the representatives of the social organizations, thanks to which an electronic prescription can be issued during home visits or other emergency situations, outside the doctor's office.
The mobile application has functionality for prescribing medicinal products even in offline mode (in the absence of Internet connectivity), and when connectivity is restored, the prescribed prescription is sent to the National Health Information System.
