Comparative analysis of legal provisions on prescription of drugs in different countries

Abstract

Introduction. The medical prescription is a written document, addressed to the pharmacist, signed and initialled by the doctor, in which is indicated the patient's medication in ambulatory conditions. The prescription authorizes the release by a pharmacist of a specified quantity of drugs under the control of the legislation in the field. Aim of the study. Comparative analysis of legislation on prescription of drugs in the Republic of Moldova and other countries. Materials and methods. Have been evaluated State Drugs Nomenclature, reglementation of medicines prescription in different countries, literature review of prescriptions forms of drugs. Results. Currently, in Moldova, according to State Drugs Nomenclature are authorized 4952 drug names, of which 1430 are included in the OTC list, that constitutes 28.9%, respectively 3522 drug names, according to the legislation in force requires medical prescriptions to be released by the pharmacist. In Romania are authorized 35138 drug names, of which 2077 are OTC, that represents 6%. The family physicians and specialists are the ones who can prescribe a prescription, but the compensated drugs can only be prescribed by the family doctor. In the Republic of Moldova the prescriptions are made only on paper, in accordance with the provisions of the Order of the Ministry of Health no. 960 of 01.10.2012. In Romania and North Carolina most recipes are electronic, this helps to increase the quality of the medical act, significantly reducing the risk of error during the enrolment. The engine of medical rules (drug interactions, contraindications, correlations between diagnosis, age and prescription drugs), the entire technical background of the electronic prescription reduces the risk of complications. When prescribing drugs, psychotropes and precursors, medicines under control, the patient receives the paper recipe in the Republic of Moldova and is written in 3 copies, in Romania - are 4 copies, using 2 types of prescription: the yellow color when prescribing the medicines of Table 2 and green - in Table 3 (Annex to Law 339/2005 RO). In Moldova the circulation of these drugs is regulated by the Law 382 of 06.05.1999, the Government Decision no.1088 of 05.10.2004 and the Order of the Ministry of Health no. 960 of 01.10.2012. Conclusions. In the Republic of Moldova, the number of OTC drugs is lower than in Romania, but in relation to the total number of those authorized, then in Romania 1 out of 17 authorized is OTC, and in Moldova 1 out of 3.5. The use of electronic prescriptions in the medication process minimizes medication errors caused by prescription and release of drugs.