No more handwritten prescriptions

Starting January 2014, prescriptions will no longer be written by  hand, announced the KNMG on Wednesday.Sixteen organizations from the medical community, including physicians federation KNMG, the National Association of General Practitioners, and pharmacists organization KNMP have agreed together issue electronic prescriptions only.

The doctors federation published a special directive Wednesday, stating that doctors are no longer allowed to write prescriptions by hand. There are exceptions, such as when a doctor visits a patient at home and has no electronic prescription system.

The electronic prescription has its advantages over the prescription pad. Errors due to poor readability can be prevented. Also, the doctor can use the system to verify the prescribed dose is right, reports a KNMG spokesperson.

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Incidentally many hospitals and doctors already write electronic prescription as standard practice, the spokesman said.