We all have encountered the need to buy medicine to solve a health problem. Many can be bought directly at any pharmacy, but those more specific needs a prescription to get them.
Difficulties arise when the prescription, is not carried out correctly, which may result in the non-achievement of the product by the patient. It is necessary, therefore, to know how to make a prescription correctly to avoid such situations.
How to make a prescription correctly
To begin with, we must take into account that only some health professionals, such as doctors, dentists or podiatrists, are legally authorized to make a medical prescription. Veterinarians may also prescribe medications, whenever these are provided for veterinary use.
To make a prescription correctly, the health professional will have to make an effective document, without any risk, always respecting the preferences of the patient, who will ultimately decide whether or not to use the prescription.
What is a 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.
Parts of a prescription
The prescription document consists of two parts:
- Body of the prescription. It is the part destined to the pharmacist, that contains all the necessary information so that the patient can take the medication.
- Information sheet for the patient. It may be included in the prescription or it may be another separate document. This page details the information necessary for the patient, regarding the treatment and the diagnosis, detailing all the medicines and prescribed products.
Facts about a prescription
Within the document of the prescription, there are some essential and mandatory requirements to make it valid and the pharmacist can dispense the prescribed medication.
- Drug data. Of course, the trademark of the drug or its active ingredient must appear in the prescription. In addition, other data regarding the medication, such as dosage, pharmaceutical form, route of administration, format, number of required dose and posology will have to appear. Some of these elements are generated automatically when the prescription is electronic, so it will only have to be filled in case of manual prescription.
- Patient’s data. The prescription will also have to bear 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 care, the patient’s ID or NIE, or a legal guardian in case of minors, will have to appear.
- Details of the doctor. In order for the document to be valid, all the data concerning the doctor who extends the prescription must be included in the document. In addition to the full name with the surnames, in the prescription will have to appear the collegiate number, the direction where it exercises. Of vital importance is that stamp personal signature on the prescription or electronic signature in case of electronic prescriptions; otherwise, the prescription will not be valid.
- Other data. Although not as relevant as the previous ones, the document must be marked with the date the prescription was made, the expected date of dispensing the medication in case of chronic or renewable treatments, and the order number, also in case of 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 consultation and a feeling of discomfort between the patient and the pharmacist.