- Mr. Said, first of all, could you please explain what the "Electronic Prescription" system is?

- The electronic prescription is the digital version of a paper prescription. The "Electronic Prescription" system involves the electronic registration and management of prescriptions issued to citizens in both state and private medical institutions in Azerbaijan. Additionally, the "Electronic Prescription" system will provide a unified platform for managing prescriptions for doctors, patients, and pharmacists.

- How can citizens obtain the medications in the prescription through this system?

- After a medical examination or consultation, people can obtain the medications prescribed via electronic prescription from any pharmacy organization operating in our country. To do this, it is necessary to present either the registration number of the electronic prescription or the QR code on the electronic prescription to the pharmacist. The electronic prescription can be presented to the pharmacist either by the patient themselves or by the person to whom the electronic prescription was transferred.

Additionally, our citizens can download the “Reseptim” (My Prescription) mobile application to view the prescriptions issued to them.

- Mr. Said, could you please tell us about the advantages of the Electronic Prescription system?

- The electronic prescription is going to eliminate the paper-based processes, allowing healthcare professionals to provide services in a more digitized and efficient manner. Moreover, it ensures accessibility to medical information for citizens, enables healthcare professionals to provide more effective services, and strengthens control over medication circulation. Additionally, the electronic prescription system will enhance readability of prescriptions, eliminate or reduce errors, enable tracking of past prescriptions, prevent undesirable interactions between medications, provide accurate dosages, and allow alignment with diagnoses based on the International Classification of Diseases. In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the implementation of the Electronic Prescription system will generate additional economic benefits due to increased transparency across the sector. Furthermore, the constantly updated registry of medications will serve as a basis for macro-analysis at the national level. This registry will provide detailed information on the availability and demand for medications, as well as which doctors have prescribed them for which diagnoses. This will strengthen control over transactions during medication sales, including preventing the spread of counterfeit and unregistered products.

- Where the “Reseptim” (My Prescription) mobile application can be downloaded?

- To further expand awareness and ensure ease of use of the Electronic Prescription system among the public and healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health has created special links on its official websites, sehiyye.gov.az and pharma.az, the official website of the Ministry's Analytical Expertise Center. These links contain instructional videos about the Electronic Prescription system for patients and healthcare professionals. Through these instructional videos, healthcare professionals and patients can familiarize themselves with the procedures for using the Electronic Prescription system easily and comprehensively. Additionally, QR codes provided in the links allow users of iOS and Android mobile phones to download the “Reseptim” (My Prescription) mobile app.

- Which medications will be included in the Electronic Prescription system? Will biological activity supplements also be included in electronic prescriptions?

- The Electronic Prescription system is based on existing legislation and is designed to include only medications that are registered with the state, whose prices are determined by the Tariff Council, imported into our country, and have not expired.

- Is it possible to prescribe medications that are not registered with the state on electronic prescriptions?

- According to Article 12-1 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Medicinal Products" (Prescription of Medicinal Products):

12-1.5. In accordance with clinical protocols, a medicinal product that is necessary for the treatment of patients but is not registered with the state under the international non-proprietary name (active substance name) may be prescribed on the prescription. In this case, the required quantity of the medicinal product is indicated and submitted to the competent authority (institution) determined by the executive authority through the prescription system.;

12-1.6. The competent authority determined by the executive authority verifies the compliance of the prescription with the clinical protocols and the information in the patient's electronic health card within 2 (two) working days, and approves or rejects the prescription accordingly;

12-1.7. After the prescription is approved by the competent authority determined by the executive authority, a medicinal product not registered with the state indicated on the prescription may be imported into the country in accordance with Articles 9.4 and 9.6 of this Law.

- Where the questions regarding the Electronic Prescription system should be addressed?

- If our citizens have any questions regarding the use of the Electronic Prescription System, they can contact the Call Center of the Analytical Expertise Center of the Ministry of Health at (012) 596 07 12.