How the electronic prescription works, which is mandatory in almost the entire country from 2025

From the January 1, 2025 The implementation of electronic prescriptions as the only form of medication prescription came into effect. These must be carried out through the platforms registered in the National Registry of Digital Health Platforms (ReNaPDiS).

The measure was made official through the publication of the Decree 345/2024 in April 2024 and came into effect from the beginning of 2025. The handwritten recipes They will only be accepted in remote places without connectivity, or if they have been

What changes does the electronic prescription establish, effective since January 1

The new provision reaches hospitals, private centers, offices and pharmacieswhich completes the digitalization circuit, from prescription to dispensing of the medication. The Government assures that this new modality seeks to “allow greater traceability and monitoring of issued prescriptionsfacilitate dispensing in pharmacies and guarantee the population safer access to the medications they need.

Thus, all professionals in the health industry will be able to issue the electronic prescription and, in addition, they will have authorized platforms to send the prescriptions through them for free. Those applications that are registered and approved by the National Registry of Digital Health Platforms (RENAPDiS) of the Ministry of Health of the Nation.

Regarding the new modality, the Government detailed: “The platforms will verify that health professionals are registered in the Federal Network of Records of Health Professionals (REFEPS) of the Argentine Integrated Health Information System (SISA) and they will store the prescriptions issued in virtual repositories that will function as a link with the pharmacies, allowing the latter to access them to dispense medications when the patient requires them. This will allow people to only have to go to pharmacies with their DNI or credential to require the medication indicated by the professional”.

It should be noted that the handwritten recipe It will only remain in force, as a condition of exception, in areas of difficult access, without connectivity or in case of system interruptions. In this context, those medication prescriptions that have been issued on paper before December 31, 2024 may be used within their usual validity period.

At the moment, 17 jurisdictions have electronic prescription laws. Of them, 11 adhere to the National Law (Catamarca, Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Juan, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán), 4 have their own provincial law with their own regime (Buenos Aires, CABA, Chubut, La Rioja) and 2 have the provincial bill in progress (Río Negro, Santa Fe).

On the other hand, the 7 remaining jurisdictionsAlthough they can partially use the Electronic Prescription, they still do not have a provincial law. Of them, 4 adhere to the use of Electronic Prescription and are expected to have a bill soon (San Luis, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, Santa Cruz) and 3 are still reviewing their provincial law plans (La Pampa, Neuquén , Formosa).

What information should appear on the electronic prescription

For an electronic prescription to be valid, it must reflect the following information:

• Identification of the doctor or prescribing professional (name, registration, profession, specialty and address).
• Bar-code.
• Patient identification (name, social security or prepaid insurance, date of birth, ID and sex).
• Description of the prescribed medication with generic name or international non-proprietary name, presentation, pharmaceutical form and number of units for the indicated treatment. Optionally, the trade name of the medication that the professional suggests.
• Diagnosis.
• Issue date.
• Digital signature of the professional.

On the other hand, at the time of acquiring the medication the patient may be asked for the following: documentation:

• Affiliate ID.
• Membership card.
• Token in apps of social or prepaid works.

In reference to the last point, it will depend on the digital validation tool used by each pharmacy. Additionally, with the electronic prescription It will not be necessary for the patient to print it to present it at the pharmacy, when purchasing medications.

Finally, the new legislation provides that, if the pharmacy does not have all the medications that were prescribed, the patient will be able to use the same legislation to subsequently acquire the missing drugs.