How to quickly, effectively, and stress-free fulfill an e-prescription?

How to fulfill an e-prescription is a question that arises most often during the first contact with the electronic drug prescription system, as the e-prescription requires the provision of identification data and is read digitally in the pharmacy system.

• To fulfill it, you need an access code and a PESEL number.
• The document can be presented in various forms: app, SMS, printout.
• The pharmacy allows partial collection of medications at many locations.
• The validity period of the prescription depends on the type of therapy.

See also: E-prescription for antibiotics in teleconsultation – how it works and how to obtain it?

How to provide the data needed to fulfill an e-prescription?

Fulfilling an e-prescription requires providing an access code and a PESEL number, as these two elements identify the patient in the pharmacy system. This means that the pharmacist, using this data, gains access to all items on the prescription and can proceed with its fulfillment.

The patient can present the prescription in the form of an SMS, email, or through the mObywatel app, where a QR code is available to facilitate reading the information. It is also possible to present an informational printout that contains the identification data of the document. Each of these forms is equivalent and does not affect the range of available medications.

In practice, the pharmacist uses the pharmacy system, which automatically retrieves data from the e-health platform. This means that the patient does not need to bring any additional documents other than those that allow for the identification of the prescription. Clinical data remains accessible only to authorized individuals.

Is it possible to purchase only part of the medications and in how many pharmacies can this be done?

Partial fulfillment is possible, meaning that the patient can purchase only part of the packages prescribed by the doctor. The pharmacy system records the information about the number of packages issued, so the remaining part of the therapy can be collected later. This is particularly useful in situations where the patient is undergoing long-term treatment.

If a medication is unavailable at a given pharmacy, the remaining packages can be collected at another location. The accuracy of the data recorded in the system is important, as each pharmacy gains access to information about the remaining number of packages. This solution facilitates the continuation of therapy without interruption.

It is also possible for another person to collect the medications. This requires providing the access code and the patient’s PESEL number. Such a process is accepted by pharmacists and is based on the principles of prescription identification in the pharmacy system.

What is the validity period and when can the prescription no longer be fulfilled?

The validity period of the e-prescription depends on the type of medication. The standard fulfillment time is 30 days, but there are exceptions due to the need for quick or long-term access to therapy. Antibiotics (7 days) require urgent initiation of treatment, so their fulfillment outside this period is not possible.

Psychotropic medications have a validity period of 30 days, which has been established for the safety of pharmacotherapy. The 365-day e-prescription applies to chronic treatment, but purchasing a larger number of packages must comply with the dosing indicated by the doctor. The pharmacy system automatically blocks fulfillment after the expiration date.

The availability of medications in pharmacies may vary, but this does not change the rules regarding the applicable prescription validity period. The patient should monitor the fulfillment date in the mobile app or in the received SMS message.

How does the fulfillment process in the pharmacy proceed and what are the pharmacist’s duties?

The fulfillment begins with the pharmacist entering the identification data, who then checks the dosage and the number of available packages. The pharmacy system displays the history of partial fulfillment, which prevents the duplication of issued items.

The pharmacist is required to verify the compliance of the medication with the prescription and check whether the dosage requires additional clarification. In doubtful cases, they may refuse to issue the medication until information is obtained from the doctor. Such actions stem from the principles of pharmacotherapy safety.

After issuing the medication, the patient receives information about the remaining number of packages if the prescription has not been exhausted. The date of fulfillment is also recorded in the system, allowing for the monitoring of the entire process.

Q&A

Can you get a prescription without a phone?
Yes, you just need the access code and the PESEL written on a piece of paper.

Can someone else pick up the medication?
Yes, if they have the code and the patient’s PESEL number.

Can all medications be picked up partially?
Most can, but the dosage may limit the number of packages issued at one time.

Does filling a prescription at a different pharmacy require a new code?
No, the code and PESEL remain the same until the prescription is fully used.

Sources

1. NATO Science for Health – digital prescription systems and patient safety.
2. WHO – Electronic prescribing and medication adherence.
3. Research on e-health and the safety of prescription fulfillment in digital systems (PubMed).