Frequently asked questions about NHS electronic prescription interoperability

It is necessary to present the individual health card, with the operative magnetic band or the virtual health card.

In order for the pharmacist to consult the patient's treatment, the user must indicate the autonomous community where the prescription was written.

The individual health card is an essential requirement for the pharmacist to be able to consult the cardholder's treatment.

Therefore, if not presented, no pharmaceutical product can be dispensed.

No, it isn’t. However, it is advisable for the user to carry the active medication and patient information sheet when traveling in order to help him/her with any doubts which may arise regarding the administration of his/her medication.

Any individual with an individual health card in physical or virtual format of the National Health System can obtain his or her medication in an autonomous community other than the one where the prescription was issued.

Additionally, the interoperable electronic prescription for people affiliated to mutual insurance companies with public provision (MUFACE, MUGEJU and ISFAS) is available in most of the autonomous communities.

Information on the autonomous communities which have implemented the service for publicly provided mutual insurance companies is available at the following link: MUTUAL COMPANIES WITH PUBLIC PROVISION IN RESNS

Currently, the following products can be dispensed:

• Drugs authorized and included in the National Health System database, including:
  • Drugs financed with or without an inspection visa.
  • Narcotics.
  • Non-financed drugs.
• Effects and accessories (e.g. gauze, adhesive tape, urinary incontinence pads, etc.) included therein, if prescribed by national code.
• Dietary products included in the portfolio of common services of the National Health System.

Parapharmacy products (blood glucose strips, syringes, etc.) are not included.

Certain extemporary drugs and individualized vaccines are also available in some autonomous communities.

Information on the autonomous communities which may dispense these products can be consulted at the following link: NEW SERVICES IN OPERATION IN RESNS

The following services are included in the electronic prescription:

• Cancellation of dispensations: it enables the pharmacist to cancel a dispensation which has already been made.
• Precautionary blocking of dispensations: it allows the pharmacist to block the dispensation of a drug if he/she detects any circumstance which may affect the safety of the citizen.
• Confidentiality in dispensing: it enables any citizen to request protection and confidentiality at the time of prescription, so that, when he/she goes to the pharmacy, a differentiated dispensing can be carried out.
• Active treatment: it allows the pharmacist to know in a complete way the treatment which the patient currently has active and its dispensing dates, not only the drugs to be dispensed at the moment. 

Information on the autonomous communities which have incorporated these services in the RESNS is available at the following link: New services in operation at RESNS.

When the patient obtains pharmaceutical products from a pharmacy located in an autonomous community other than the one where the prescription was issued, he/she must pay for his/her medicines according to the pharmaceutical contribution which corresponds to him/her. However, the established contribution ceilings will not be applied. If the ceiling is exceeded, the patient must request a refund of the corresponding amount upon returning to his or her autonomous community of origin. To do so, when requesting reimbursement, he/she needs to present the purchase receipts and invoices provided by the dispensing pharmacy.

Pensioners should be especially aware of this condition because they have a contribution ceiling.

The pharmacist receives a message informing him/her of the cause of the incident and informs the patient. Additionally, the pharmacy office can contact its Official College of Pharmacists (COF), which will take the necessary steps to respond to the pharmacist as soon as possible.

A priority objective is to ensure that no citizen is left without access to pharmaceutical products prescribed by electronic prescription in another autonomous community due to a failure in the data transmission systems.