Greater efficiency with electronic prescriptions

Healthcare is becoming ever more digital, not least in Switzerland. The Swiss Medical Association (FMH) and the pharmacists' association pharmaSuisse have long been advocating for the nationwide use of e-prescriptions. Last year, a practice information system was set up that allows prescriptions to be issued online and dispensed in more than 1200 pharmacies with the appropriate software. Telemedicine provider santé24 will be offering this innovation to all customers from 1 April.

"We want to play our part in this innovation and continue to build on our high service standard," said Silke Schmitt Oggier, Medical Director, welcoming the introduction of the new service. High security standards, state-of-the-art technology and, above all, ease of use are at the heart of the decision. The e-prescription can be emailed directly to patients via a secure connection, allowing them to have it dispensed at the pharmacy of their choice, whether this is at their home, work or holiday address in Switzerland. E-prescriptions can even be dispensed out-of-hours or on public holidays at duty pharmacies. Even pharmacies that are not connected to the system can read the e-prescription and dispense the relevant medication. Although e-prescriptions are issued electronically without a doctor's signature, they are impossible to forge. It is always easy to see where or by whom the prescription was issued.

Issuing and sending prescriptions electronically doesn't just save time for everyone involved. E-prescriptions can be amended or cancelled in the event of a mistake. They reduce the use of paper, save environmental resources and are easier for the dispenser to read and therefore also to understand. Electronic transmission saves the pharmacist from having to manually enter the prescription into the information system and everyone involved in the process can clearly see when, where and to whom the prescription was issued. Moreover, an e-prescription cannot be copied or dispensed multiple times.