In order to provide residents the option to purchase prescribed medicines in other EU member states during foreign trips, Latvia has started cross-border e-prescription data exchange with certain member states, as reported by the National Health Service (NVD).
Until now residents were able to purchase prescribed medicines in other EU council only if they had a printed prescription.
E-prescribed medicines can now by purchased in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Portugal and Spain. The number of countries will gradually increase. NVD reports that this option is popular. There have already been cases when e-prescriptions were used abroad.
As of the 4th of March 2024 residents of certain EU member states are able to purchase e-prescribed medicines in Latvian pharmacies. Currently it is possible to purchase in Latvia medicines prescribed in Estonia, Poland, Czechia, Portugal and Spain.
Information about countries that exchange e-prescription information with Latvia is constantly updated and is available on NVD website www.vmnvd.gov.lv.
NVD explains that when arriving at a foreign country’s pharmacy, residents have to inform pharmacists they are Latvian residents
who want to purchase medicines electronically prescribed in Latvia. Residents will need to present their ID as well.
If residents want to use an e-prescription issued in Latvia to purchase reimbursable medicines, NVD invites residents to take into account that the purchase of medicines at the pharmacy will have to be paid for from their own wallet. When returning to Latvia, residents can apply to the NVD to request reimbursement of expenses. Reimbursement of expenses will be applied in accordance with the compensation conditions in force in Latvia.
Also read: Latvia to allocate more funding towards Covid-19 prevention measures
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