Technical glitch: E-prescriptions suddenly blocked in Bochum!

Technical glitch: E-prescriptions suddenly blocked in Bochum!

The introduction of the e-prescription requirement about three months ago faced a number of difficulties in North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in Bochum. For several weeks now, many pharmacies in the region have been reporting massive technical problems when issuing e-prescriptions. Loud Radio Bochum The main reason is planned maintenance work on the system, which results in patient files not being accessible for several hours.

The critical situation is particularly evident on weekends, public holidays and at night, as paper prescriptions cannot be issued during these times. Thomas Haddenhorst, chairman of the Warendorf district group in the Westphalia-Lippe Pharmacists' Association (AVWL), says that the situation is currently very problematic. “Affected pharmacies cannot process e-prescriptions and provide patients with medication,” he explains. These failures are not due to the pharmacies themselves, but rather to the health care system's deficient telematics infrastructure, which controls all processes. The Pharmacists Association therefore calls for an urgently needed improvement of the system and points out the risks for acutely ill patients who rely on quick medication.

Technical hurdles and patient problems

The problems with e-prescriptions are not just limited to Bochum. A survey by KV Rheinland-Pfalz showed that over 65% of doctors reported difficulties with the new technology. According to their blog More than 62% of those surveyed say that the technical infrastructure has deficiencies. In addition, there are reports that many patients cannot receive their medication on time because the e-prescription process is sometimes very time-consuming.

Doctors often release prescriptions with a delay, which means that patients often have to wait at the pharmacy when they show up after seeing the doctor. In January 2024, 69% of prescriptions issued were in e-prescription format, showing that this digital solution is becoming increasingly important. However, it is currently facing major challenges that must be resolved quickly to ensure the safety of treatment for patients.

The financial impact of the technical problems is also significant. Many pharmacies have already suffered economic losses because state-regulated compensation has not increased significantly in two decades. The AVWL therefore not only calls for a rapid stabilization of the telematics infrastructure, but also for pharmacies to be compensated for financial losses through no fault of their own. E-prescriptions are considered a positive development in the healthcare system, but implementation must go smoothly in order to actually realize this advantage.