Exceptional regulations of the state health ministries in two German federal states, in Schleswig-Holstein recently and in Saarland since last Friday, make it possible for medical practices and pharmacies to cooperate in a different way than usual in order to be able to protect patients from infection with the corona virus. Until April 30th of this year, it is possible for patients without personal contact with a doctor to obtain the medication they need from a pharmacy of their choice; either by picking it up themselves or by a person entrusted with it, but also optionally by a delivery service of the pharmacy. The exceptional situation allows patients to call the doctor’s surgery and order a prescription. The prescription is then sent by e-mail or fax to the pharmacy of the patient’s trust, which then delivers the drug or several drugs. This avoids unnecessary contacts in emergency situations. The Ministry of Health of the Saarland, for example, has made corresponding agreements in coordination with contract physicians and pharmacists, which were previously valid in Schleswig-Holstein, because this measure is intended to protect customers from infection, which could be fatal, especially for older and sick people. The patient only has to make a telephone call and ask for the prescription to be sent to a pharmacy of his choice. The agreement between the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the pharmacists‘ associations of the two German states could also make sense for others. The doctor decides which the patient is eligible for prescription in this way. Doctor and pharmacist can then individually consider the route taken by the prescription from the doctor’s surgery to the pharmacy.
