Electronic prescription: “I do not carry responsibilities but Papastergiou is responsible,” says Adonis Georgiadis

The problem “premier” of the new platform that has caused the intense reactions of the doctors was mentioned by the Minister of Health, at his greeting at an event of the SFE for cutting the New Year’s pie on Monday night (20.1.25). As Adonis Georgiades said about electronic prescription, from 8 February 2025 the drug verification system of the Greek Medicines Verification Agency (HMVO) has been implemented at a pan-European level and there was no other possibility of deferral. CORVERSE As he pointed out, if pharmaceutical companies are not connected by then to the European platform, they will not be able to import medicines and this will be at the expense of patients. Mr Georgiadis noted that the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, is responsible for the electronic prescription, as HEDika falls under this ministry. “Obviously, it provides services to the Ministry of Health, but parliamentaryly, the supervising minister is Mr Papastergiou. I say this to be precise, not to convey responsibilities,” he said. CORVERSE In response to PASOK’s criticism of doctors’ complaints about electronic prescription, the Minister of Health wondered: “If we ask the Change Movement whether we should connect to HMVO on February 8, what will it answer?”. At the same time he explained how the new system was put into parallel operation three months ago with the old one so that users could become familiar. Of the 60,000 doctors who prescribe 30,000 had no problem with the new system According to the minister, doctors had been repeatedly informed that the old system would be abolished in January. Of the 60,000 doctors they prescribe, 30,000 became acquainted with the new system in time, while others experienced difficulties, especially on the first day of application. Most complaints concerned technical details, while alongside doctors who had not understood what they had to do, the “Coupling” platform had “falled” after the cyberattack. “EDIKA forgot to inform doctors that they had to clear their history and reintroduce the address. This led them to the old address, showing technical error. Fine, let us take responsibility,” said Mr Georgiades. “The criticism from PASOK would have a basis if it had been prior to a substantial involvement in the work we have done,” he commented. “It is not the job of politicians to caress the ears of those who complain. We must consider whether they are right or wrong,” he noted. Georgiadis concluded by stressing that the medical world had sufficient support through workshops, technical teams, help desks and emails, ensuring the necessary preparation for the smooth transition to the new system.