Amendment of Advisory Dated 18 March 2020 with Subject, "Use of Electronic Prescription for Dangerous Drugs during the Duration of the State of Calamity Pursuant to Proclamation No. 929"

May 14, 2020

DDB ADVISORY

 

The title of the Advisory dated 18 March 2020 is hereby amended and shall read as follows:

"Use of Electronic Prescription for Dangerous Drugs During the Duration of the State of Public Health Emergency Throughout the Philippines Pursuant to Proclamation No. 922 of the Office of the President."

The set of guidelines set forth in the Advisory is also hereby amended and shall read as follows:

a. For the duration of the State of Public Health Emergency Throughout the Philippines pursuant to Proclamation No. 922 issued by the Office of the President, an electronic prescription for dangerous drugs, or the photo of the (i) Special Prescription Form for Dangerous Drugs or (ii) ordinary prescription form stored in a cellular phone or any electronic gadget, may be used by the patient or his/her authorized representative and presented to a drugstore or pharmacy for proper dispensing of the required medication.

b. The prescribing physician shall provide the following information in the electronic prescription:

1. Full name, business address, and contact details of the prescribing physician;

2. The current S-2 license number;

3. Complete name and address and age of the patient;

4. Date of prescription;

5. Generic and brand name of the medicine containing dangerous drugs to be supplied, the dosage strength and form and the total number of dosage units or quantity needed in words and its numerical equivalent; CAIHTE

6. Direction of use; and

7. Original signature of the prescribing physician.

There shall be an inscription of "no refill" in the electronic prescription.

c. Section 31 (6) (d) of Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014 issued by the Board provides that in extraordinary circumstances, the prescribing physician may issue multi-month prescriptions, not exceeding thirty (30) days' supply per prescription or a total of ninety (90) days' supply for medicines containing dangerous drugs in Schedule IV of the 1971 UN Convention, all dated on the day of issue and with written instructions on the second prescription of when to obtain the medicine. In such cases, the prescribing physician shall indicate on the face of the prescription, the number of prescriptions issued to the patient (i.e., one of 3 Rx, two of 3 Rx and three of 3 Rx).

In cases where the prescribing physician has issued a prescription for thirty (30) days' supply and the condition of the patient requires more dose medication than originally assessed, he/she may issue a supplemental prescription within the thirty-day period reckoned from the date when the original prescription was made.

The use of electronic prescriptions shall be allowed in both cases.

d. The prescribing physician shall keep records of all electronic prescriptions issued and report the same to the Compliance Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency within fifteen (15) days after the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines. The same rule applies to licensed drugstores or pharmacies dispensing medicines containing dangerous drugs as prescribed by the electronic prescription. As such, drugstores or pharmacies shall secure copies of the electronic prescriptions, or photos thereof, which shall serve as supporting records to their report.

e. An individual duly authorized by the patient may purchase the medicines in behalf of the latter, provided that a written or electronic authorization, identification card of the authorized individual, and the electronic prescription are presented to authorized personnel of the drugstore or pharmacy.

f. The Advisory shall cover the entire country for the duration of the State of Public Health Emergency.

Section 40 (b) of Republic Act No. 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act expressly provides that no prescription once served by the drugstore or pharmacy shall be reused nor any prescription once issued be refilled.

Presidential Proclamation No. 922 provides that the State of Public Health Emergency shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President.

Issued this 14th day of May 2020 in Quezon City, Philippines. DETACa

By the Authority of the Chairman:

(SGD.) UNDERSECRETARY EARL P. SAAVEDRAExecutive Director