How to make a medical prescription correctly

We have all encountered the need to purchase a medication to solve a health problem. Many can be purchased directly at any pharmacy, but those more specific need a prescription hope to get them.

The difficulties appear when the prescription, or the prescription, is not carried out correctly, which can lead to the non-achievement of the product by the patient. It is necessary, therefore, to know how to make a medical prescription correctly to avoid this type of situation.

How to make a medical prescription correctly

To begin with, we must bear in mind that only some health professionals, such as doctors, dentists or podiatrists, are legally authorized to make a prescription. Veterinarians can also prescribe medicines, as long as they are for veterinary use.

To make a medical prescription correctly, the health professional will have to make an effective document, without any risk, always respecting the patient’s preferences, who will ultimately decide whether or not to use the prescription.

What is a medical prescription

The prescription or medical prescription is defined as a legal document, made by a qualified health professional, which enables a patient to obtain certain medication at a pharmacy.

The exact content of a recipe is indicated in Royal Decree 1718/2010, although it can be summarized in a simple and understandable way for anyone who wants to have this information.

Parts of a medical prescription

The recipe document consists of two parts:

  • Body of the recipe. It is the part destined to the pharmacist, that one that contains all the necessary information so that the patient can be done with the medication.
  • Information sheet for the patient. It may be included in the recipe or it may be another separate document. This page details the necessary information for the patient, regarding the treatment and the diagnosis, detailing all the medicines and prescribed products.

Data from a medical prescription

Within the document of the recipe, there are some essential and mandatory requirements to be valid and the pharmacist can dispense the prescribed medication.

  • Data of the medicine. As is logical, the trademark of the medicine or its active ingredient must appear in the prescription. In addition, other data will have to appear regarding the medication, such as the dosage, the pharmaceutical form, the route of administration, the format, the number of containers required and the posology. Some of these elements are generated automatically when the recipe is electronic, so they will only be required to be completed in case of manual recipes.
  • Patient’s data. The recipe will also have to carry the patient’s data, such as the name, with both surnames, and the year of birth; and the patient’s personal identification code if it is a prescription for public health care. If it is a prescription for private medical assistance, you must show the DNI or NIE of the patient, or a legal guardian in case of minors.
  • Data of the doctor. In order for the document to be valid, all the information relating to the doctor who issues the prescription must be included in it. In addition to the full name with the surnames, in the recipe you will have to show the number of the collegiate, the population and the address where you practice. It is vitally important that you stamp your personal signature on the recipe, or electronic signature in case of electronic recipes; otherwise, the prescription will not be valid.
  • Other data. Although they are not as relevant as the previous ones, the document must be marked with the date on which the prescription was made, the expected date to dispense the medication in case of chronic or renewable treatments, and the order number, also in case that it is a long-term treatment.

Following the basic guidelines, the process will be simple and satisfactory for all parties, avoiding an unnecessary return to the doctor’s appointment and a feeling of discomfort between the patient and the pharmacist. If you have any questions about how to make a prescription correctly, you can leave us your comment or contact us directly.

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