Why this is important:
Electronic prescriptions decrease the risk of errors, make it easier to control the prescribing and sale of medicines, and increase transparency. This marks a move towards digitalising healthcare and strengthening the fight against shadow drug trafficking.
What happened
Connection to the “Electronic Healthcare” system will commence in 16 cities and districts;
the electronic prescription indicates the international name of the preparation, the dosage, the method of application, and the period of administration;
The document will contain the patient’s, doctor’s, and medical institution’s data and a QR code for verification;
potent and psychotropic drugs will remain in paper format for now; the transition to them is expected after 2027;
By the end of 2026, electronic prescriptions should be implemented throughout the country.
Context
Since 2022, Uzbekistan has been actively developing digital services in medicine: electronic cards, hospitals, and polyclinics. Similar systems operate in several EU countries: electronic prescriptions allow the doctor, pharmacy, and patient to work in a single digital circuit. According to WHO data, the introduction of e-prescriptions reduces the number of medical errors by 30-40%.
