Telemedicine can ensure the proper use of digital prescriptions

There has been a heated debate about digital recipes. Although there is a law that regulates its use, 27,553 it has yet to be regulated, and the recently announced changes have prompted valid and plausible counterpoints.

The good news is that today there is already an optimal, efficient and safe channel that meets the concerns and needs of patients, healthcare professionals, pharmacies and the Government in its capacity as regulator: telemedecine.

Remote medicine, which is gaining followers minute by minute in our country and especially after the pandemic (30% of the associative base of Medifé already uses its platform assiduously), brings together three central aspects who are the ones that really matter and get to the bottom of things.

Issuing prescriptions electronically has been proven to reduce errors by 30% and improve understanding of drug names, indications for their use and more

First, telemedicine guarantees the medical act. Through a virtual consultation, there is a patient who comes into contact with a health professional and a clinical evaluation. If necessary, the prescription is a consequence of the said consultation. And the medical act is relevant around the prescription because in consultation important aspects can be noted when taking a drug, understanding its side effects, understanding the ways to take it or knowing what to do in the absence of answer, to name a few.

Secondly, telemedicine guarantees that, within the framework of said medical act, the prescription is issued in a context of safety. Filling a prescription on a digital platform assumes that there is certain pre-loaded information (vade-mecum), which helps reduce errors or doctors’ understanding of handwriting. Electronic dispensing of prescriptions has been proven to reduce errors by 30% and improve understanding of drug names, indications for use, etc.

In addition, it helps that the prescriptions meet the criteria set by the digital prescription law which has not yet been regulated: that the name and surname of the patient, the healthcare professional, their license plate are provided and that it is not possible to duplicate it. This is very important because it excludes the possibility of the same prescription being duplicated or used several times, with an impact on behaviors such as self-medication, to name just one of its undesirable consequences.

Telemedicine guarantees that, within the framework of a medical act, the prescription is issued in a context of security

A third factor is that the prescription issued in the context of telemedicine care includes information concerning traceability of said document. This provides transparency on the origin and the user while generating valuable information on the prescription of drugs or the prevalence of certain diseases, to name a few advantages.

The debate on the use of digital recipes highlights the importance of disseminating them within a framework that preserves aspects of security and traceability in a complex and highly regulated industry.

It also crystallizes the urgent need to provide agile, accessible and practical solutions to patients: today the technology of telemedicine and video consultations is proving to be a safe, efficient and fairer channel so that patients from any part of the country receive timely care, without transfers, without crowding guards and medical centers or waiting for very long turns. At the same time, guarantees are also required that the issuing of prescriptions is done in accordance with the law, which would be desirable to receive regulations soon.

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