E-prescription for children: the most common questions from parents along with answers

The e-prescription for a child allows a parent or legal guardian to quickly obtain prescribed medications through the e-health system, and scientific studies confirm that electronic prescriptions improve the safety of therapy in pediatric patients and reduce the number of medication errors.

• The e-prescription can be issued after an in-person consultation or a teleconsultation.
• To fulfill the prescription, a code and the child’s identification number are needed.
• The parent has access to the document in the child’s Internet Patient Account.
• The e-health system supports medications used in infections and chronic diseases.
• The child’s data is secured by encryption and access control in the P1 system.

See also: E-prescription for reimbursed medications – how does it work?

How does the e-prescription for a child work in practice?

The e-prescription for a child works on the same principles as the electronic prescription for adults, but access to it is assigned to the parent or legal guardian through the child’s Internet Patient Account (IKP). Studies of pediatric systems show that digital prescriptions reduce the risk of incorrect dosing and prescribing errors, which is particularly important in the youngest patient group.

The parent receives the e-prescription code via SMS or through the mojeIKP application. The e-health system automatically saves data about the prescribed product, dosage, and number of packages. In the pharmacy, the pharmacist gains access to the document by entering a four-digit code and the child’s identification number.

The electronic prescription allows for quick transmission of treatment recommendations, especially in situations where the parent cannot personally visit the clinic.

How to obtain an e-prescription for a child during a teleconsultation?

A teleconsultation allows for the issuance of an e-prescription without the need for an office visit, provided that the doctor can assess the health status based on the interview and available documentation. Pediatric studies show that telemedicine is effective in cases of typical infections and the continuation of chronic therapy.

During the teleconsultation, the doctor:

• collects a detailed medical history,
• assesses symptoms,
• analyzes the history of chronic diseases, if applicable,
• decides on the necessity of an e-prescription or an in-person visit.

In the case of a sudden worsening of symptoms or difficulties in assessing health status, the doctor may recommend an in-person consultation, which is confirmed by clinical studies regarding the safety of telemedicine in children.

What medications are most commonly found on an e-prescription for a child?

The most commonly prescribed medications include preparations used in infections and childhood diseases. Studies confirm that proper selection of pediatric therapy requires strict adherence to dosing guidelines, which the e-health system automatically monitors.

The most commonly used include:

• antibiotics for children (e.g., for bacterial infections),
• prescription antipyretics,
• prescription cough medications,
• antiallergic or steroid medications prescribed during allergy exacerbations,
• preparations used in chronic diseases, e.g., asthma or diabetes.

The pharmacist can fulfill the prescription based on the code, and the system checks the validity and correctness of the issuance.

How does a parent fulfill an e-prescription at the pharmacy?

Fulfilling the prescription occurs by providing the e-prescription code and the child’s identification number. The system displays the doctor’s recommendation, dosage, and number of packages to the pharmacist. Studies confirm that electronic pharmacy systems reduce the risk of errors in dispensing pediatric medications.

The parent can use several access methods:

• the mojeIKP application (e-prescription code and child’s data),
• SMS with the code,
• email with the prescription,
• informational printout.

The IKP system for parents also allows tracking the history of prescriptions and reminders for subsequent stages of treatment.

How does the system protect the child’s data?

Data of pediatric patients is secured through encryption mechanisms and access control in accordance with GDPR principles. Research on the security of e-health systems confirms that central registry systems, such as P1, reduce the risk of unauthorized access by linking the document to the parent’s account.

Only the person designated as the legal guardian in the system has access to the e-prescription, which prevents unauthorized use of the data. The system does not share data with external entities outside the prescription fulfillment process.

Q&A

Does the child need to have their own IKP?
Yes, but the parent has access to the account as the legal guardian.

Can an e-prescription for a child be obtained through a teleconsultation?
Yes, provided that the doctor deems it medically justified.

Can a parent purchase medications at any pharmacy?
Yes, the system allows fulfillment at any pharmacy that supports e-prescriptions.

Does an antibiotic for a child have a shorter fulfillment period?
Yes, usually 7 days from the date of issuance.

Are the child’s data secured?
Yes, the P1 system uses encryption and access rights control.

Sources

1. WHO. Digital Health Systems in Pediatric Care.
2. Journal of Medical Internet Research – Safety of Electronic Prescriptions in Children.
3. OECD. Telemedicine and Electronic Prescribing in Primary Care.