The Health Service will implement a new electronic prescription system during the weekend of 21 and 22 February as part of a technological upgrade aimed at improving the prescribing and dispensing of medicines. During this transition period, the use of the health card to prescribe and collect medication at pharmacies will be temporarily suspended.

Patients are advised to obtain their medication either before or after the system change. Emergency care, however, will remain fully guaranteed, as healthcare professionals will issue paper prescriptions when required to ensure uninterrupted access to essential treatments.

Pensioners who are normally exempt from medication payments and who need to purchase medicines prescribed during emergency visits over that weekend will be able to request reimbursement of the amount paid through the official administrative procedure available online.

TDB keeps you informed. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

The healthcare system introduces a new electronic prescription platform to enhance safety and continuity of care

The new SIGMA system is a web-based platform that integrates the management of outpatient medication and allows shared access across all levels of care. This unified approach strengthens treatment continuity, improves coordination among healthcare professionals and enhances patient safety throughout the medication process.

Key benefits include clinical decision support tools, streamlined professional communication, comprehensive medication management in residential care settings and improved interoperability at the European level. The system also lays the groundwork for future digital solutions that will enable patients to consult their treatments and access medication through digital health services.

This upgrade forms part of a broader digital transformation strategy designed to modernize healthcare delivery, reduce administrative burdens and actively involve citizens in their own care pathways.