Ordinance

Verified 28 November 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Electronic prescription or e-prescription

Published on 12 November 2024

L'order of 18 november 2020 aims to develop the practice of prescriptions drawn up in a paperless manner (‘electronic’ or ‘e-prescription’).

This page will be updated when the ordinance comes into effect.

In the meantime, the information contained on this page remains valid.

What is a prescription in the medical field? What's its use? The prescription is used to obtain the dispensing of certain drugs or to benefit from the performance of certain medical procedures or examinations. It is written by a healthcare professional and contains the necessary information for your treatment to work properly. We'll lay out the rules for you.

The length of time varies depending on the nature of the order.

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Drug delivery

General case

In most cases, you have 3 months maximum, after the date of prescription of your doctor, to go to the pharmacy and thus obtain the 1re drug delivery.

After this date, your prescription is no longer valid and your pharmacist will no longer be able to give you the medicines.

The duration of treatment prescribed on the prescription is, 1 year old maximum.

However, in certain special cases, the doctor has an obligation to limit his prescription in time (e.g. anxiolytics is in principle limited to 12 weeks).

The pharmacist delivers the medicines to you for a period of one month each time. You should return to renew them if necessary (in the case of a treatment of several months).

FYI  

One corresponding pharmacist may renew a prescription for the treatment of long-term illness and, if necessary, adjust the posology.

Treatment of at least 3 months not repeated for chronic disease

Treatment is prescribed for at least 3 months for chronic disease.

If the renewable prescription has expired, the pharmacist can dispense these drugs within the limit of 3 months by dispensing 1 month. The idea is to avoid any interruption of treatment.

For this purpose:

  • The prescription must include the prescription of the medicine allowing a total duration of treatment of at least 3 months
  • The first issue must be issued within one month of the expiry of the order.

Medicines for this purpose are reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

Please note

HoweverHowever, this type of renewal cannot be carried out if the maximum possible duration of the treatment has already been exceeded. This may be the case, for example, when prescribing morphine or medicines for insomnia or anxiety.

The pharmacist shall state on the prescription the name of each of the medicinal products concerned and inform the doctor who prescribed those medicinal products.

Prescription of contraceptive pills less than one year old

To avoid any interruption of treatment between 2 visits, the nurse is authorized to renew a prescription of contraceptive pills less than one year old, for an additional period of up to 6 months.

Pharmacists may also dispense a contraceptive pill for an additional 6 months under the same conditions (the initial prescription must be less than a year old).

In total, the maximum duration of a prescription renewal of contraceptive pills by a nurse and/or pharmacist is 6 months non-renewable.

Please note

For be reimbursed for drug costsHowever, double the prescription must reach your health insurance organization.

Medical device

For example, compression stockings, crutches, a lumbar belt, a knee brace, dressings, an IUD.

For example, compression stockings, crutches, a lumbar belt, a knee brace, dressings, an IUD.

The period of validity of your prescription is 12 months (one year).

FYI  

A medical device is reimbursed if it is listed on the refundable list of products and services (LPP).

Prescription for medical examination

When your doctor recommends that medical examinations be carried out (biological analyzes, radiology, etc.), it is recommended that they be do quickly following your appointment, even if there is no time limit for the review.

Glasses or lenses

Your prescription has a different duration depending on your age for the renewal of your glasses or lenses.

Glasses

The rules differ depending on whether the glasses are to be changed or broken.

Eyeglasses for change (view)

The period of validity of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • From the age of 43: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision
  • Between the ages of 16 and 42: your prescription is valid for 5 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision
  • Under 16: your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision.

The period of validity of the prescription is 6 months for 1re delivery.

FYI  

The rules relating to refunds glasses change depending on whether or not you are 18 years old.

Broken glasses

The period of validity of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • 16 years and older: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will deliver glasses equipped with corrective lenses identical to those broken
  • Under 16: the prescription only serves once. You should go back to your doctor to get a new pair of glasses.

FYI  

The rules relating to refunds glasses change depending on whether or not you are 18 years old.

Lenses

The period of validity of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • From the age of 16: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will be able to renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist opposes them as indicated on the prescription). He will first check your vision
  • Before age 16: your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician will be able to renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist opposes them as indicated on the prescription). He will first check your vision.

FYI  

Health Insurance supports contact lenseson medical prescription for certain indications.

Speech therapy

The medical prescription for a speech pathologist evaluation has no validity.

The service My health space allows you to find in the same place (in your folder titled “ my health documents ") medical documents filed by you or by professionals, including prescriptions.

You can also request a duplicate of the prescription from the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

FYI  

For a renewal treatment, you can go to your pharmacy, and ask to use the prescription scanned by the pharmacist the first time you visit.

Shelf life is one-year general.

It is:

  • 5 years for the delivery of glasses of a person between 16 and 42 years
  • 3 years for the delivery of glasses from a person aged 43 years or over.

There is no time limit for the delivery of hearing aids.

Who can help me?

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