At the pharmacy or delivery, buying medicine with a digital prescription is easier than with the original version — all you need is access to a cell phone. In addition, it is not necessary to print the document (PDF) sent by the doctor, as only the presentation of the file and its verification are enough. In case of prints, the QR Code must be visible.
The main advantage of the digital medical prescription is that the patient no longer runs the risk of losing the physical document, as it eventually happens. Another benefit is the ease and security when checking authenticity — after all, a stamp and signature are more easily forged. Finally, the document also facilitates the reading of the prescription, since sometimes the doctor’s handwriting can be difficult to understand.
How to buy medicine with digital prescription?
First of all, the patient must have had a medical consultation, in person or teleconsultation, with a health professional who already issues digital prescriptions. After the diagnosis of the disease, definition of the best treatment and completion of the service, the complete prescription should arrive for the person in the email or via the messaging application.
Now, yes, it is possible to go to the pharmacy to buy the prescribed medicines. To do this, simply present the document on your cell phone or transmit it to the pharmacy via WhatsApp. The exact mechanism depends on how the business operates. After reviewing the prescription, the pharmacist searches for the requested medications.
Below is an example of a digital recipe:
Not every medicine can be prescribed digitally
In general, the digital prescription already works for most prescription drugs, including some antimicrobials, anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and hormone controllers, according to the Ministry of Health. On the other hand, it cannot be used in the prescription of medicines such as retinoids and thalidomide, as there is still a requirement for a physical prescription.
Digital revenue and digitized revenue
Important point: Digital revenue is not the same as digitized revenue. A scanned document means a photo of a traditional recipe. According to the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), this type of document, without a QR Code, is only valid for prescription-only or over-the-counter medications.
How doctors can make a digital prescription
Now, thinking about doctors who want to generate new revenue, they must have a digital certificate issued by the Brazilian Public Key Infrastructure (ICP-Brasil). This is what will prove the authenticity of medical documents.
In Brazil, there are already different companies that offer services that facilitate issuance. Even CFM itself created a free platform, together with the Federal Council of Pharmacy (CFF) and the National Institute of Information Technology (ITI), to facilitate the issuance, it is the Electronic Prescription.
Despite the numerous facilities, physicians need to consider whether, in their clinical practice, issuing digital prescriptions is advantageous for their audience. For example, professionals who serve underprivileged populations or very elderly people may have difficulties with implementation.
Source: Ministry of Health e CFM
