E-prescription rollout in Germany to proceed despite technical issues

The German Federal Association of Pharmacists (ABDA) has confirmed that the nationwide rollout of the electronic prescription (e-prescription) system will commence as planned on September 1, 2022. This follows the fulfillment of quality criteria during a testing phase and an agreement with health insurers to cover medication costs even in the event of technical errors with the e-prescriptions.

Key quality criteria met include the successful processing of at least 30,000 e-prescriptions. Furthermore, health insurers have assured pharmacies that they will cover the costs of prescribed medications during a transition period, even if the prescribing physician's name does not match the signature on their professional identification card. This "peace obligation" regarding retractions is intended to prevent patients from having to return to doctors for new paper prescriptions, which would strain healthcare services and potentially reduce acceptance of the new system.

Thomas Dittrich, Chairman of ABDA, stated that pharmacies are prepared for the e-prescription system. "Pharmacies have been working intensively on the digital transformation of the healthcare system for years. Now the introduction of the e-prescription is imminent," Dittrich said. He added, "Hardware and software are available, and final training sessions are taking place." Dittrich emphasized the importance of patient trust during the initial phase, noting that rejecting e-prescriptions due to technical errors would be counterproductive.

The agreement with health insurers to cover costs during technical issues is seen as crucial for the successful adoption of the e-prescription. Dittrich concluded that collaborative efforts between doctors' offices, pharmacies, and insurers are essential to make the e-prescription a success and provide tangible benefits to patient care.