New rules to standardize external prescription management

The National Healthcare Security Administration on Oct. 16 issued a notice regulating the standard management of external prescriptions for insurance-covered medications. 

According to the notice, designated medical institutions in regions where the online prescription center is operational must provide external prescription services through this center. Print-out paper prescriptions are encouraged to assist insured individuals, especially the elderly, in purchasing prescribed drugs at designated retail pharmacies. For regions where the online prescription center is not yet operational, paper prescriptions issued by designated medical institutions will be considered valid only after being signed by a healthcare provider and stamped with a special seal for external prescriptions.

The notice specifies that when retail pharmacies process external prescriptions for insured individuals, they must carefully verify the authenticity, legality, and compliance of the prescriptions, confirming details such as medication information, validity periods, and the insured individual's information. If any issues are detected, pharmacies should refuse to dispense the medication and promptly report to the local healthcare security department.

Retail pharmacies are permitted to sell medications according to external prescriptions issued by designated medical institutions within their region, and compliant medications can be included in the scope of payment from the healthcare security fund. External prescriptions from medical institutions outside the designated region are not currently accepted.