Prescribers. Conclusions from the Supreme Medical Council

The result of the discussion is the following conclusions:

• The medical community, i.e., the medical self-government, scientific societies, representatives of healthcare providers, patient organizations and institutions linking telemedicine stakeholders, are convinced and strongly advocate the need for a uniform standard for telemedicine services, especially with a view to patient safety and well-being.
• The lack of a sound standard for telemedicine provision results in attempts to introduce ad hoc administrative solutions in the form of limiting the number of prescriptions, rather than solving the problem associated with the operation of so-called prescribers. 
• The standard will not solve investigative matters: the control of the provincial governor, MZ and OROZ. However, it will make it possible to significantly reduce the pathological activities of so-called prescribers and give tools to control bodies. In addition, it will indicate to doctors the principles of correct provision of tele-treatments, together with precise knowledge of the correct organization of such a health service. Moreover, it will significantly increase the safety of providing services to patients.
• Adequate oversight and control tools are needed, along with effective sanctioning of healthcare providers issuing prescriptions and exemptions remotely that do not comply with required regulations, standards and the art of medicine.
• The current system provides an opportunity to verify abuses in the number of e-prescriptions and e-commitments issued. Stakeholders' activities should be combined in joint prevention of irregularities in this area. 
• The medical self-government and its professional responsibility bodies must have the legal ability to initiate action against doctors who practice in violation of the law and the rules of professional ethics. Currently, intervention by the self-government requires a notification from the patient or the institutions that statutorily control medical entities, namely the governor or the Ministry of Health.
• The patient's questionnaire cannot be the sole basis for the provision of services. As part of the investigation of a patient's health problem, synchronous contact, assuming a conversation between the medical professional and the patient, is essential.
• To ensure patient safety in the course of medical services, it is necessary to give the doctor the practical possibility of direct access to the patient's complete medical records, including those provided in other entities required for the service, including prescription history. 

Source: NIL