EOPYY Prescriptions

[Kilkis]

Has anybody who follows the Greek news more closely than I do heard if EOPYY are planning to do anything about repeat prescriptions?

Most older people, including me, who are the most vulnerable group, take regular medication for a whole host of chronic conditions. Ever 3 months or so they need to go to their doctor to get a repeat prescription. Since the advice to this group is to carry out extreme social distancing, i.e. stay at home, it would be crazy for them to go to a doctor's surgery where the probability of catching COVID-19 is highest. Since all prescriptions are now computerised it ought to be possible for them to phone/email their doctor, give them their AMKA number and ask them to issue a repeat prescription. Rather than print it off the doctor ought to be able to save it on the EOPYY system. The patient could then tell their pharmacist their AMKA number by phone or email and the pharmacist could retrieve the prescription from the EOPYY ssytem and issue the medication. The patient could then collect the medication themselves, perhaps with the pharmacist bringing it out to them, or get a younger friend to collect it. OK, collecting it themselves involves slight risk but infinitely smaller than going to a doctors.

Warwick

[Keltz]

I have been to the pharmacist this morning, they are not letting anyone in, you have to talk to them from the doorway and they then bring the prescription to you.

[Kilkis]

I've no problem with that, Keltz. Sounds very sensible to me but how do you get the prescription in the first place? I've got enough medication for one more week and a prescription for one month after that which takes me to 22 April. The infection rate is going to be pretty rampant by then so I don't want to go to a surgery just to get some bits of paper with stamps on.

Warwick

[altohb]

No EOPYY doctors here, so no choice!

[Kilkis]

It doesn't have to be an EOPYY doctor who issues the EOPYY prescription. I use a private doctor to get the prescription, for which I pay, but she issues an EOPYY prescription so I get all my medication for 25 % of its market price. EOPYY pays the other 75 %. OK so it's not completely free but it costs me €20 for three months prescription and I save over double that on one prescription so worth doing. I would guess that this pathologos in Siteia would be able to issue the prescription?

Warwick

[altohb]

We have a good doctor, thanks, Warwick, and know that if we get there early we can be seen without encountering too many other people in the waiting room! I suppose that one day online prescription ordering will be possible here, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Kilkis]

... I suppose that one day online prescription ordering will be possible here, but I'm not holding my breath.

It depends what you mean by "online prescription ordering"? I can't order a repeat prescription online like people can in the UK. I have to go to my doctor's surgery and the doctor, or in reality the receptionist, issues the repeat prescription. The doctor/receptionist, however, creates the prescription online using the EOPYY online system and then prints it off as an A4 page, stamps it and signs it. Are you saying that doesn't happen in Siteia? I have had situations where a specialist was prescribing a medication that wasn't available at a discount under the EOPYY system and then they used a prescription pad to hand write the prescription. Obviously I had to pay full price for that medication. Are you saying that this type of hand written prescription is the only type you can get in Siteia?

My comments apply to people with cover under EOPYY through an S1 Form. Obviously people without EOPYY cover won't get EOPYY prescriptions nor the discount. I was under the impression that only EOPYY prescriptions issued through the online EOPYY system qualified for the discount.

Warwick

[altohb]

Our doctor is "private" as far as I know, but we get the discounted rate via our S1 forms. Ditto cardiologist, who is definitely private. Forms generated via the system, printed out and signed and stamped by the doctor. No receptionists around here! Yes, we've had handwritten prescriptions for stuff not available via the system, and also for things which can, thereafter, be obtained OTC.

Yes, by online prescription ordering I did mean like the UK system. Given the variety of doctors here, if for no other reason, I just can't see it happening.

[Keltz]

I've no problem with that, Keltz.

Indeed, but teenagers wanting to buy condoms might. I can see the birth rate this winter shooting up with people 'isolating' over the next few months'.

[Kilkis]

...Yes, by online prescription ordering I did mean like the UK system. Given the variety of doctors here, if for no other reason, I just can't see it happening.

It is something like the UK system that I was suggesting in my first post but not exactly, because of the variety of doctors. All doctors use the same online EOPYY system to issue prescriptions. That system is in the control of the government, not the doctors. It would not be a major change to enable that system to either allow the doctor to print out the prescription as they do now OR to save it in the online database, possibly with an electronic signature, and let the pharmacist access it directly. You wouldn't be able to order it directly but you could ask your doctor to save it so that you only need to go to the pharmacist. Payment could be made directly to the doctor's account through online banking.

Warwick

[Midlander]

There is a question and answer article on Flash news today which includes some info on EOPPY prescriptions

flashnews.gr/post/419907

Scroll down to item 21.EOPPY.

[Kilkis]

Thanks for that, Midlander, but unfortunately it doesn't really help. It allows doctors to issue repeat prescriptions up to 30/06/2020. My next renewal is due on 22 April and would normally be issued for 3 months so well past30/06/2020 anyway. Also this is not going to be all done and dusted by 30/06/2020. The problem is not when they are issued but how they are issued.

Warwick

[SatCure]

An elderly, disabled acquaintance phoned her (private) doctor in Kalives. He phoned the pharmacy and I collected the prescription direct from there.

[Kilkis]

Thanks, that sounds promising, Martin. I'll give it a try next month. I don't mind going to the pharmacy to collect the prescription myself but I don't fancy going to a doctors surgery. They are basically giant petri dishes at the best of times.

Warwick

[bobscott]

Thanks, that sounds promising, Martin. I'll give it a try next month. I don't mind going to the pharmacy to collect the prescription myself but I don't fancy going to a doctors surgery. They are basically giant petri dishes at the best of times.

Warwick

Guidance was put out yesterday from the Vamos Health Centre about phoning in rather than visiting but there was no actual mention of how to renew repeat prescriptions. Lots of 'Google translate' stuff which can obscure the finer points. Awaiting clarification. Bob.