The introduction of the e-prescription is making some progress

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The introduction of the electronic prescription is making some progress after delays and at a low level. According to the company responsible, Gematik, more than 10,000 e-prescriptions have now been redeemed. The curve points upwards: a month ago there were about half as many and two months ago around 1950.

The switch from paper prescriptions to digital prescriptions is a mammoth project in the German healthcare system that had initial problems. A pilot project in Berlin-Brandenburg largely came to nothing last year, and a nationwide test phase began later than planned.

Representatives of doctors, health insurance companies and pharmacies warned of technical and practical problems – they called for a slower procedure and pointed out, for example, that there was a lack of software updates for practices. In December 2021, the concerns were addressed and the mandatory introduction planned for January 2022 was put on hold.

Since then, the voluntary use of e-prescriptions has been progressing, as the figures from Gematik show. The situation with software updates has also improved. Once 30,000 digital prescriptions have been issued, the shareholders of Gematik – in addition to the Federal Ministry of Health, also doctors, insurance companies and pharmacists’ associations – want to advise on how to proceed and tackle a nationwide introduction. It is unclear when the e-prescription will become mandatory and thus the standard.

According to Gematik boss Markus Leyck Dieken, the latest increase indicates that medical practices and pharmacies are becoming increasingly routine when it comes to e-prescriptions. So far, not a single one of the redeemed digital prescriptions has been “refunded” – so their payment was not later rejected. “The development of the numbers shows that the e-prescription works and that those involved feel increasingly secure and have optimized their processes with regard to the e-prescription,” said Leyck Dieken.

The e-prescription only applies to those with statutory health insurance, who have received around 500 million paper prescriptions in Germany to date. If you want to use the e-recipe, you should download the Gematik app “e-recipe” onto your smartphone. A code from the health insurance company is required to legitimize yourself./wdw/DP/zb