Electronic prescription: “The new platform is meaningless and wasteful business,” doctors insist

The reactions for its new platform, which has been put into service since Monday (20.1.25), continue unabated, in the service of patients and doctors. Private doctors through steps to the health ministry point out that they have not had time to get familiar with the new system of electronic prescription of the EDDIA. They also announce, malfunctions, delays and inconvenience of patients and health professionals. CORVERSE The President of HEDICA, Niki Tsuma, on the other hand, in her exclusive statements at iatropedia.gr insists that the new system is much more convenient and simple to use. Anna Mastoraku: “In confusion doctors for using the platform” The vice president of the Panhellenic Medical Association (PIS) and president of the contracted doctors of EOPY (ENI-EOPY), Anna Mastorakos, underlines by speaking to iatropedia.gr, that most doctors have not even understood how the new platform works. “In particular with regard to protocols and drug exploration menus, the system has been hung many times these days when it was in trial parallel operation with the old platform. Old-age doctors have been “delivered” in complete confusion. Everyone is very anxious about what will happen today,” he says. CORVERSE He notes that patients will suffer as the waiting time has increased to process the prescription. “The time required for a prescription has increased to almost twice. If we add the lack of familiarity with the new platform, clearly the first days will be difficult,” Anna Mastorakos says. PROCEEDINGS: The new prescription is more easy to use On the other hand, the arguments of the Ministry of Health and the DENMARK are in diameter. The new application aims not only to improve the quality of health services but also to address the trafficking of falsified medicines, as provided for in the relevant European directive, Nikki Tsuma, President of the IDICA, says in iatropedia.gr, while pointing out that the new electronic prescription is much more easy to use. “The system is the same as the old one, but it is more modern, faster and friendly. We’ve presented it full-time in Days to doctors and we’ve given it in parallel with the old system for two months to get familiar. Malfunctions are not going to present. So far we have had complaints from doctors that the old system was slow and cumbersome. The new system has more automatic options to choose from and therefore makes their everyday life easier. Those who have seen it send us congratulations!”, he points out. See also: No more medicine coupons today: “The new system is more easy to use,” says THE COURT With the new platform, the use of “traditional” stickers that pharmacists attached to recipes is abolished. The coupons are replaced by digital, while each medicinal preparation will be accompanied by a unique barcode. Through this the ‘electronic trace’ of the drug will be recorded, from its production plant to the moment it reaches the pharmacy and finally the patient. For this reason, the platform is linked to the drug verification system of the Greek Medicines Verification Agency (HMVO). This system will be fully operational on 9 February 2025, facilitating the safe disposal of medicinal products. Pathologists: ‘Source of directed waste of resources, the new platform’ The Professional Association of Pathologists in Greece is taking this one step further. It does not merely express serious concerns about the functionality of the system, but characterizes it as a “insubstantial and wasteful undertaking”. “The change of the electronic prescription platform we consider to be a meaningless and wasteful undertaking, which raises serious questions about its effectiveness and feasibility. Despite the initial presentation of change as a move to modernise health services, reality shows that the new system is not only unnecessary but also a source of directed waste of resources. The new platform did not simplify any process. Unlike transport, procedures were lost which in some cases were beneficial to users – doctors. Timeless deficiencies in technical support and insufficient familiarity create unnecessary confusion and multiple delays,” the pathologists say. In their harsh criticism they also add how the replacement of an operating system, with a similar dubious effectiveness, demonstrates a lack of strategic and rational management of public resources. If combined with the mandatory use of the electronic dating system – as planned – it will not be an innovative solution, but will be a mechanism that completely distracts the doctor from the care of the patient. “Often the speed of the system is so slow that it makes completion of even the most basic actions impossible. This situation removes the patients and the few doctors left as contracted or not, from the services of the EEAY, with the immediate result of looking for accurate private insurance solutions,” doctors say and conclude: “Health requires practical and effective solutions, not bureaucracy and mismanagement. Unless there is substantial interference and funding, the EEAY risks losing the trust and support of society.”