As part of the psychotropic medication reform, significant changes have been made to the electronic prescription issuance rules, which come into effect today, April 1. According to official information, the reform aims to tighten control over the circulation of psychotropic drugs and prevent their misuse.
The Ministry of Health explained that the new regulations define the maximum quantity of medication that can be dispensed. Specifically, prescriptions for adult patients will be issued for a supply of no more than 14 days, while for minors, the limit is a 30-day supply. Importantly, a new prescription may only be issued if the patient has no more than a 5-day supply remaining.
The new rules also strictly regulate dosage: the daily dose of the drug must not exceed the maximum limit defined by the instructions. Additionally, doctors are required to justify the necessity of the prescription in the patient’s medical history. The regulation also includes specific rules for cases where the medication is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
According to the Ministry, these changes are linked to violations identified by the Regulatory Agency. Instances were recorded where psychotropic medications were prescribed without proper diagnosis, in excessive doses, and by medical professionals lacking the appropriate authorization. It is known that 10 doctors have already faced professional liability for these violations. According to the agency, supervision over the process of prescribing and dispensing psychotropic medications will be further strengthened.
