From August, Ukrainians will receive an electronic prescription for antibiotics.
Such an opportunity will become available to health care facilities that are already registered and working with the electronic health care system (EHS).
However, the rule on dispensing antibacterial drugs by prescription is not new, a new digital tool – an electronic prescription – will start working in August.
What do patients need to know about the launch of e-prescribing for antibiotics?
Why can’t you buy antibiotics yourself without a doctor’s prescription?
An antibiotic is a serious prescription drug that should only be prescribed by a doctor. Only a doctor can determine the expediency of taking an antibiotic, choose an effective active substance, dosage and regimen of taking the drug. Self-prescription and uncontrolled use of antibiotics can not only harm human health, but also stimulate the development of a global problem – antibiotic resistance, as a result of which bacteria acquire resistance to treatment. This can lead to the fact that infectious diseases, which today are quickly and without consequences treated with antibacterial drugs, can become deadly.
Which doctors will issue e-prescriptions for antibiotics?
An electronic prescription can be obtained directly at the doctor’s appointment. The technical possibility of issuing prescriptions will be available to both public and private doctors. At most, a doctor of any level of medical care and specialization can prescribe a prescription – therapist, surgeon, dentist, etc. The main condition is that the institution and doctors must be registered in the electronic health care system. If the institution to which you have applied does not yet work with ESOZ, the doctor will write a paper prescription.
In which pharmacy can you buy medicine with an e-prescription?
During the transition period, the patient will be able to purchase the necessary prescription drugs at any pharmacy. To do this, it is enough to show the pharmacist an information certificate, which the doctor will issue as confirmation of issuing an e-prescription, or a paper prescription. Note that you can buy an antibiotic by prescription within 30 days from the moment of its discharge.
Is it possible to pay off the e-prescription partially, i.e. purchase a smaller amount of the drug than indicated in the prescription?
The doctor specifies the active substance of the drug, dosage and duration of treatment in the prescription. Instead, the patient can decide for himself about the brand of the drug and partially repay the prescription according to his budget. The functionality of the electronic prescription allows you to make a partial dispensing of drugs and divide the purchase into several times. At the same time, it is not necessary to get a prescription from the doctor again.
When dispensing, the pharmacist will put the stamp “Dispensed” on the information certificate and indicate the quantity of the medicinal product dispensed. With repeated repayment, the patient will be able to use the same prescription.
Is a declaration required to receive an e-prescription? What are the other conditions?
A declaration is not required to receive an electronic prescription for antibiotics. However, the patient must be registered in the electronic health care system. This can be done in two ways: by making a declaration with a family doctor, or by directly registering for an appointment with any doctor. For this, it is enough for the patient to have an identity document (domestic or foreign passport, ID card, birth certificate for children) and registration number of the taxpayer registration card (TIN) (required for everyone who has reached the age of 14, with the exception of the patient refused to acquire such a number, which is confirmed by the corresponding mark in the patient’s passport);
This means that those Ukrainians who are temporarily forced to change their place of residence will be able to get a prescription from a doctor without a declaration.
How to obtain and repay an antibiotic prescription in villages with limited access to health services?
It is assumed that during the transition period in remote regions and rural areas, in the absence of doctors and limited access to medical services, paramedics can issue prescriptions for antibiotics.
Also, in the absence of a pharmacy in rural areas, the retail sale of medicines is carried out in the premises of paramedic, paramedic-midwifery centers of rural, district hospitals, dispensaries, and general practice dispensaries by employees of these institutions who have a medical education.
How to get the necessary antibiotic in the territories where hostilities are taking place/which are under occupation?
There will be an exception for those pharmacies located in the area of hostilities or in the territories that are under temporary occupation or encirclement. Such pharmacies will temporarily be able to continue to dispense prescription antibacterial drugs to patients without a doctor’s prescription for the duration of martial law.
The list of such settlements is approved by the relevant order of the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories.
How will volunteers be able to purchase antibiotics?