A European Survey on the Possibilities and Obstacles of Electronic Prescriptions in Cross-Border Healthcare

Abstract

This study investigated the possibilities and obstacles for cross-border electronic prescriptions within the European internal market. Cross-border electronic prescribing requires interoperability of the systems and use of standardized solutions. We conducted a survey-based case study. A questionnaire on the use of electronic prescriptions was sent by e-mail to the delegates from 14 European Union (EU) member countries and 2 European Economic Area (EEA) countries during spring-summer 2003. A reply was received from 11 delegates in 11 countries contacted. Currently electronic prescriptions are in everyday use in only a few EU member countries, while many others are running or considering pilot projects. We found that electronic prescribing across national borders is impeded by many obstacles, which may relate to other systems or to lack of standardization. Information technology is likely to gradually spread to prescribing in Europe. Before more countries will integrate electronic prescribing into national healthcare, it would be important to ensure interoperability and common standards between national systems. Only then can electronic prescribing offer its full potential, and cross-border electronic prescribing can be realized at the EU level.

South African physicians’ acceptance of e-prescribing technology: an empirical test of a modified UTAUT model

“…For example, Kaushal et al [15] found that ambulatory practices using e-prescribing experienced a statistically significant decrease in prescription error rates one year after adoption but they found no statistically significant change in error rates in their control group of non-adopters. E-prescriptions are also easy to read and can thus be processed quickly by pharmacists [17] and with fewer dispensing errors that result from illegible handwriting, or unclear abbreviations or dose designations [16]. They can thus provide time savings for physicians when pharmacists no longer need to call them with queries [9] [11].…”

Cross-border digital public services in the European Union: a systematic literature review

“…Within this analytical theme, various studies focus on and describe the European Commission's role in bridging the differences between member states (Leosk et al, 2021;Mäkinen et al, 2006;Marcut, 2019). Studies report that this form of coordination has taken place through agenda setting in the e-GOV action plan 2010, the Malmö and Tallinn declarations and in the 2014-2018 strategy on European e-justice (Berce et al, 2011;Schmidt and Krimmer, 2022).…”

“…These regulatory frameworks are considered to be critical conditions in the development and implementation of cross-border digital public services (Leosk et al, 2021;Tinholt et al, 2013). A final role for the EU, as reported in the literature, is promoting standardisation (Nalin et al, 2019;Schmidt and Krimmer, 2022;Soe, 2018) and developing the general building blocks for cross-border services to be implemented by member states (Mäkinen et al, 2006;Nalin et al, 2019;Schmidt and Krimmer, 2022;Soe, 2018, Kramer, 2016Leitold, 2019, Velicogna et al, 2020.…”

“…The adoption of cross-border digital public services is usually characterised by discussions on privacy concerns and the security issues associated with the required collaboration between public administrations (Akkaya and Krcmar, 2018;Castelnovo, 2014;Graux, 2021;Leitold, 2019;Mulder and Snijders, 2020;Natsiavas et al, 2018;Ng, 2014;Prentza et al, 2021;Tinholt et al, 2013;Weck et al, 2022;Williams et al, 2018;Zarazaga-Soria et al, 2007). Furthermore, due to the inherent requirement of the multiple public administrations involved in the delivery of cross-border digital public services, studies identify the conditions for successful service delivery in the establishment of collaboration, coordination and specific agreements (Leosk et al, 2021;Mäkinen et al, 2006;Marcut, 2019;Soe, 2018;Williams et al, 2018). In addition, establishing trust and the willingness to share data between executive organisations is also identified as a prerequisite (Akkaya and Krcmar, 2018;Graux, 2021;Natsiavas et al, 2018;Ng, 2014;Prentza et al, 2021;Trupec et al, 2015;Velicogna et al, 2020;Weck et al, 2022;Williams et al, 2018).…”

“…This cultural and legal diversity contributes to the heterogeneity of operational procedures, requirements and data models (Berce et al, 2011;Kramer, 2016;Leitold, 2019;Mäkinen et al, 2006;Nalin et al, 2019;Ng, 2014;Prentza et al, 2021;Weck et al, 2022;Williams et al, 2018) within and between members states, but also at EU level (Prentza et al, 2021).…”