Electronic prescription, the rule on prescriptions via email or text message expires

Electronic prescription, the rule on prescriptions via email or text message expires. Doctors and pharmacists ask for an extension and write to the minister.

The rule introduced during the pandemic to allow patients to receive drug prescription codes on their phones has lapsed.

Unless extended, the end of 2022 will trigger a halt to the use of prescriptions sent by email or text message from family doctors to patients to collect medicines at the pharmacy. In fact, the rule expiring on December 31 has not yet been extended.

Consequently, we will return to paper prescriptions to be collected in person at the clinics. The doctors have launched an appeal to the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci so that we do not go back.

The dematerialized prescription was introduced in March 2020 to deal with the pandemic emergency and was then extended until the end of 2022.

Thanks to the ordinance, citizens have had the opportunity to avoid physically going to their doctor's office to collect the paper prescription and instead receive the code to use to purchase the drugs directly on their phone.

The alternative to the classic red reminder has allowed for the past two years to simplify access to health services, reduce bureaucracy and limit crowding at clinics. For this reason, the sector of pharmacists and general practitioners unanimously requests the extension of the rule.

According to what was announced by Marco Cossolo of Federfarma, the National Federation of Italian Pharmacy Owners, there is the will to continue with the same methods. “We are always available to collaborate,” he specified.

The Smi, the Italian Doctors' Union, has taken a position by writing a letter to Minister Schillaci.