site.btaOver 80% of Electronic Prescriptions Actually Used to Buy Medicines, Health Minister Says

Over 80% of electronic prescriptions are actually used to buy medicines, Health Minister Hristo Hinkov said in a bTV interview on Wednesday. Hinkov said an extension to the period when paper prescriptions are allowed for antibiotics will become effective on December 8. The grace period is until April 1. It was agreed between Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and sectoral organizations last week.

According to Hinkov, the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) insisted on extending the period of use of paper prescriptions for antibiotics, particularly in the case of doctors who cannot electronify their part of the process. These are often older people, including pensioners, who have no electronic signature.

Paper prescriptions will remain in use after April 1, except where electronification is mandatory. The government and the BMA have agreed that, in the meantime, a study will be conducted to see whether the country is prepared for full electronification of all prescriptions by the end of 2024 or earlier, the minister explained.

Antibiotic prescriptions present a complex issue, Hinkov went on to say. The adoption of electronic prescriptions for antibiotics puts an end to the practice of issuing regular prescriptions for all kinds of antibiotics, selling other antibiotics when those prescribed are unavailable, and even selling antibiotics without prescription. The uncontrolled use of antibiotics is why Bulgaria has the highest resistance level for this group of medicines in Europe, Hinkov said.