Electronic prescribing

Pharmacies across Bulgaria are facing temporary closures on July 3 due to planned protests by pharmacists against proposed changes to their payment structure by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Amidst a shift toward digital healthcare practices, a new regulation mandates that doctors prescribe antibiotics solely through electronic prescription starting today. Previously issued paper prescriptions for antibiotics remain valid for 30 days and can still be filled in pharmacies across the country.

As of today, electronic prescriptions come into force, but not all pharmacies are ready for this step.

The medications prescribed by the GP may be sold to  patients after they tell the pharmacist their personal ID number and the date of issue of the prescription, deputy Minister of Health Zhenia Nacheva said. There won't be any need for the patient's prescription book.

Citizens have the option as of Monday of purchasing medications from pharmacists with the use of their mobile phones without having to present a doctor's prescription in a printed form.

People will be able to get their prescriptions through gov.gr, via an app which will be launched on a trial basis Monday.

There are two effective ways of controlling the healthcare system - through the patients and the electronic system, the best way is on the part of the patient. This is what the manager of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Prof. Kamen Plochev told BNT.

He added that the patients should be able to report violations, and to monitor electronically the procedures they had.

''The introduction of e-prescription is expected to cost around BGN 12М, Konstantin Kachulev, chairman of the regional pharmaceutical association - Blagoevgrad announced, according to  FOCUS Radio - Pirin.