The Ministry of Health clarified in which cases the photos of medical prescriptions may be used

Last Monday, through its Official Gazette, the Ministry of Health reported that the photos of physical medical prescriptions will no longer be valid when buying medicines in pharmacies, a decision that has caused great controversy.

Thus, wallet led by Carla Vizzoti came out to clarify that this decision establishes the elimination of photos of medical prescriptions, but that digital or electronic formulas are still valid, as explained by the Ministry of Health.

Press release from the Ministry of Health.

Through a press release, the Ministry of Health specified that the photos of the prescriptions, which at the time were sent to pharmacies via Whatsapp or email, were authorized during the period of isolation within the framework of the health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In this sense, they stressed that, by eliminating preventive isolation, the use of photos for recipes ceased to be in force in a large part of the country, so the decree published on Monday only made said measure official.

The Ministry of Health clarified in which cases the photos of medical prescriptions may be used

However, The portfolio clarified: “digital or electronic prescriptions continue to be valid, in accordance with the provisions of Law 27,553”. To do this, the prescription must have the electronic or digital signature of the treating physician. In addition, it was explained that the photos will be valid for specific cases.

The photos of prescriptions may be presented in pharmacies only by “patients with chronic conditions and prolonged treatments who have been using this mechanism”, which will be valid exclusively until February 28, 2023.

The Ministry of Health clarified in which cases the photos of medical prescriptions may be used

As of this date, all citizens, regardless of their medical condition, must present a physical or digital prescription at pharmacies in order to buy their medications.

Why was the decision made?

the ministry clarified that the photos of recipes sent by instant messaging should be eliminated, since, after the health emergency, “It is convenient to return to the previous mechanisms, which guarantee greater security, because they are less likely to be counterfeited and encourage responsible use of medicines.”