FDA approves digital prescriptions to buy medicines

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the FDA has approved the use of electronic prescriptions through the Circular No 2002-007.

According to the Circular, patients may present electronic prescription or electronic image capture of prescriptions to pharmacies. Pharmacies are then instructed to consider these electronic prescriptions as actual paper prescriptions.

Electronic prescriptions should still follow the prescription writing standards and should include the signature, name, license, and Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) number of the issuing doctor. The burden then falls onto the pharmacies to be responsible for recognizing whether these prescriptions are indeed legitimate.

The new guidelines for electronic prescriptions are valid only during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.