ABDA outlines transition to electronic prescriptions in Germany

The German Federal Union of Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA) has identified a significant lack of patient awareness regarding the implementation of electronic prescriptions. Ahead of the national 'Pharmacy Day' on June 7, the organization presented findings from a representative survey conducted by Kantar, which suggests that the public remains largely uninformed about the upcoming digital health shift.

The e-prescription system is scheduled to launch in the Berlin-Brandenburg pilot region on July 1, 2021, before becoming a mandatory requirement nationwide on January 1, 2022. During a press conference, ABDA leadership emphasized that while digitalization is progressing, the pharmacy sector faces the challenge of managing both technical implementation and patient education.

Established in 1998, Pharmacy Day serves as an annual platform to highlight the role of local pharmacies within the broader healthcare framework. ABDA continues to maintain that despite the move toward digital infrastructure, professional guidance by pharmaceutical staff remains the primary service provided by public pharmacies.