Providing cross border healthcare

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The Cross-Border Healthcare Directive is applicable in all European Union (EU) Member States. Medical prescriptions are an important resource for the provision of health care and efficient pharmaceutical care for the patient. EU countries are gradually replacing existing paper medical prescriptions with electronic prescriptions (e-Prescriptions). The EU aims to have a cross-border electronic healthcare system that will enable EU citizens to obtain e-Prescriptions anywhere in Europe. Method(s) Medical prescription templates and national rules for prescription medication were collected from selected EU countries between June and December 2020. The most common prescription forms were obtained mainly by contacting National Contact Points for cross-border healthcare and members of the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU. It was not possible to identify patients, prescribers, or places of issue. Result(s) Every country has its own rules for prescription medication and at least two types of prescriptions - paper prescription and e-Prescription. National prescription forms in EU countries differ formally and visually. The common differences are the various content of the form, the validity of the prescription and the number of available forms. Conclusion(s) Even though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic sped up the process of introducing electronic prescriptions significantly, it is still a requirement to either have a paper medical prescription or a paper copy of the electronic prescription to collect medicine from a pharmacy in the majority of the EU countries.