#electronic prescriptions

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. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has introduced new rules aimed at making electronic payment fees fairer and more transparent, while also lifting the moratorium on increases in InstaPay and PESONet transaction charges. According to the BSP, the decision follows the implementation of zero fees for small merchant payments and the establishment of a pricing framework for person-to-person electronic fund transfers. Read more in our articles including "FDA approves digital prescriptions to buy medicines" and "Banks, e-wallets face new BSP rules on digital payment fees".