Ordinance

Verified 22 May 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Electronic prescription or e-prescription

Published on 20 April 2023

L'order of 18 november 2020 aims to develop the practice of prescriptions drawn up in a paperless manner (‘electronic’ or ‘e-prescription’).

This order comes into force on December 31, 2024.

In the meantime, the information contained on this page remains valid.

What is a prescription in the medical field? What's its use? The prescription is used to obtain the dispensing of certain drugs or to benefit from the performance of certain medical procedures or examinations. It is written by a healthcare professional and contains the necessary information for your treatment to work properly.

The length of time varies depending on the nature of the order.

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Drug delivery

In most cases, you have 3 months maximum, after the date of prescription of your doctor, to go to the pharmacy and thus obtain the 1re drug delivery.

After this date, your prescription is no longer valid and your pharmacist will no longer be able to give you the medicines.

The prescribed treatment duration is one year maximum, except in special cases.

The doctor then has the obligation to limit his prescription in time (anxiolytics - sleeping pills) between 2 and 12 weeks.

The pharmacist delivers the medicines to you for a period of one month each time. You should return to renew them if necessary (in the case of a treatment of several months).

FYI  

one corresponding pharmacist may renew a prescription for the treatment of long-term illness and, if necessary, adjust the posology.

Case of a treatment of more than 3 months not renewed for a chronic disease

Treatment is prescribed for more than 3 months for chronic disease. Scheduled renewals are complete and you have not been able to see the doctor again?

While you wait for a new prescription, the pharmacist can bring you a pack of each medicine to avoid interruption of treatment.

This advanced box will be deducted when the next prescription is issued. The pharmacist must inform the prescription writer.

Medicines for this purpose are reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

To avoid any interruption of treatment between visits, the nurse is authorized to renew a prescription of contraceptive pills less than one year old, for a further period of up to 6 months.

Pharmacists may also give birth control pills for an additional 6 months under the same conditions. The initial prescription should be less than one year old.

Please note

For be reimbursed for drug costsHowever, twice the prescription must reach your health insurance organization.

Medical device

You will find under the name medical device for example, compression stockings, crutches, a lumbar belt, a knee brace, dressings, an IUD.

The period of validity of your prescription is 12 months (one year).

FYI  

A medical device is reimbursed if it is listed on the refundable list of products and services (LPP).

Prescription for medical examination

When your doctor recommends that medical examinations be carried out (biological analyzes, radiology, etc.), it is recommended that they be do quickly following your appointment, even if there is no time limit for the review.

Glasses or lenses

Your prescription has a different duration depending on your age for the renewal of your glasses or lenses.

Glasses
Eyeglasses for change (view)

From 43 years

Your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision.

Between 16 and 42 years old

Your prescription is valid for 5 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision.

Under 16

Your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will first check your vision.

The period of validity of the prescription is 6 months for 1re delivery.

Broken glasses

16 years and older

Your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will deliver glasses equipped with corrective lenses identical to those broken.

Under 16

The prescription only serves once. You should go back to your doctor to get a new pair of glasses.

FYI  

Reimbursement of glasses is subject to a specific page.

Lenses

From 16 years

Your prescription is valid for 3 years.

The optician will be able to renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist opposes them as indicated on the prescription). He will first check your vision.

Before age 16

Your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician will be able to renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist opposes them as indicated on the prescription). He will first check your vision.

FYI  

Reimbursement of lenses shall be subject to a specific page.

Speech therapy

The medical prescription for a speech pathologist evaluation has no validity.

The service My health space allows you to find all your health information, including medication treatments such as prescriptions, in one place.

You can also request a duplicate of the prescription from the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

FYI  

For a renewal treatment, you can go to your pharmacy, and ask to use the prescription scanned by the pharmacist the first time you visit.

The shelf life is generally one year.

It is:

  • 5 years for the delivery of glasses of a person between 16 and 42 years
  • 3 years for the delivery of glasses from a person aged 43 years or over.

There is no time limit for the issuance of audio prostheses.

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