20 March 03

Regulation for prescribing the medicinal products

The Minister of Social Affairs has established new rules for the prescribing and dispensing the medicinal products from retail pharmacies. There are new types of prescriptions available. Part of the regulation is also mandatory for the veterinary products. The new rules are in force since 1 January 2003. The full text of the rules is available in Estonian.

Ravimite väljakirjutamise ja apteekidest väljastamise kord ning retsepti vorm
Sotsiaalministri 26. novembri 2002. a määrus nr 138

Some of the most important points of the regulation are:

1. It is possible to prescribe a medicinal product successfully used by the patient previously or for contraception for 6 months period (previously 2 months);
2. The prescribing and dispensing according to active substance is set to be of primary importance. The substitution to the cheaper product with the same active substance is promoted if the prescriber hasn't fixed the necessity of the specific trade name;
3. Several points are set up for the better supervision and control over prescriptions;
4. There are several rules for the prescription software to avoid undue influence of promotion;
5. The special part is dedicated to the issue of prescribing and dispensing of narcotic and psychotropic substances.