In a conversation with the Albanian journalist Freskida Miloti, pharmacist Alketa Bicja discusses the challenges she and her colleagues face in reading prescriptions issued by doctors.
According to the pharmacist, doctors who only write medications on prescriptions with their brand names are openly violating the law. She raises an alarm about a risk that accompanies patients whenever they require treatment.
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"We often see medications prescribed only by their brand name. This undeniably increases the margin of error. At the very least, a medication should have its active ingredient prescribed. The doctor has every right to provide their preferences for a specific brand name, as different professionals have trust in different pharmaceutical companies, but let them state the active ingredient. Let them write it down, present it in a different way," she explains.
What pharmacists recommend to the authorities is that if electronic prescriptions are a "luxury," at least the law should be enforced to include all the elements of a handwritten prescription.
"At the very least, the prescription should be printed.... There is a law for prescribing prescriptions. Besides the law, there are specific materials that are produced and learned from the faculty," she emphasizes.
The discussion sheds light on the importance of adhering to proper prescription practices to ensure patient safety and minimize the risk of errors in medication interpretation. Electronic prescriptions, if implemented, can serve as a valuable tool in this regard, providing a more accurate and standardized approach to prescribing medications. The call for a comprehensive approach to prescription fulfillment aligns with the goal of promoting best practices in healthcare and pharmacy services.