Prescription medicines can be purchased only with a prescription from a doctor, because they may cause certain threats and risks to a person’s health. Some patients have the right to receive prescription medicines that are fully or partially compensated by the State.
What are prescription medicines?
Prescription medicines are those:
- the pharmacological properties of which and possible adverse reaction without medical supervision may cause a direct or indirect threat to health
- that require additional research
- that contain a significant amount of narcotic or psychotropic substances
- that create a risk of medicinal abuse, addiction or may be used for illegal purposes
They can only be purchased with a prescription from a doctor because of these factors.
example Antibiotics, antidepressants and sleep aid medication.
Types of prescriptions
In Estonia, three types of prescriptions are used:
1. One-time prescription
- Issued in the unified electronic information systemor on green paper with green ink
note Valid for 60 days (for longer treatment a doctor may put a period of up to 1 year)
2. Repeat prescription
- may only be repeatedly prescribed if the medicine has been proved to be effective for the individual who it was prescribed to, or if it is a contraception
- issued in the unified electronic information system or on green paper with green ink
note Valid for 180 days (for some medication – 7 days)
3. Prescription of medicines that include narcotic substances
- Issued in the unified electronic information system or on red paper with green ink
note Valid for 30 days
Compensated prescription medicines
Patients have the right to receive prescription medicines that are fully or partially compensated by the state.
The state obligation to provide compensated prescription medicines also derives from the European Social Charter which states in Article 13:
“Anyone without adequate resources has the right to social and medical assistance”.
Such medicines are included in the list of reimbursable medicinal products in the Regulation of Health Care Services.
note The State pays 50%, 75% or 90% of the price, depending on the diagnosis and the medicine prescribed.