FAQs - Presenting a prescription in another EU country
Is there a special form that my doctor should complete for a prescription I want to use in another EU country?
NO - Rules on cross-border prescriptions only state which information should be included
on the prescription. There is no specific form or format for the prescription. In
most cases, the prescription you would use in the country where the prescription was
issued should already contain enough information for you to use it in another EU country.
You should make sure that your doctor includes at least the following information:
- Patient details: surname and first name (both written in full), and date of birth
- Date of issue of the prescription
- Details of the prescribing doctor: surname and first name (written in full), professional qualification, direct contact details, work address (including the country), and signature (written or digital)
- Details of the prescribed product: its common name (rather than the brand name, which may be different in another country), format (tablet, solution, etc.), quantity, strength and dosage.
I have a prescription for a specific brand of diabetes medicine that I take in Belgium. I tried to get the prescription dispensed while on holiday in France, but the pharmacy told me they didn't sell that product in France. Is that allowed?
YES - A medicine available in one EU country might not be sold in another EU country, or it might be sold under a different brand name. When asking for a prescription from your doctor that you intend to dispense in another EU country, you should ensure they use the common name for the prescribed product wherever possible. This will enable a pharmacist in another EU country to dispense you the equivalent product in that country. To find out if your medicine is available in other EU countries, you can check with your country's National Contact Point.
Can I use a prescription from an EU country in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland as well as within the EU?
YES - The rules on cross-border prescriptions also apply in Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway.
NO - Switzerland is not covered by the agreement on recognition of cross-border prescriptions,
and is therefore not obliged to accept prescriptions from other EU countries. Neither
are the EU countries obliged to recognise prescriptions from Switzerland.
I'm on holiday in Spain and I took my prescription, from my doctor in Belgium, to the pharmacy. However, the pharmacy refuses to dispense it, saying that they don't have to recognise prescriptions from outside Spain. Is this true?
NO - If the prescription includes the required information, the pharmacy should dispense your prescription, provided the medicine is also available in Spain. In these circumstances, you can contact the country's National Contact Point.
I have a prescription issued 3 weeks ago by my doctor in Germany, which I want to have dispensed while on holiday in Czechia. The pharmacy in Czechia told me that they can't accept it because prescriptions have to be dispensed within 14 days of signature by the doctor. Are they correct?
YES - The EU patients' rights directive states that medicines have to be dispensed in line with national rules. In Czechia prescriptions have to be dispensed within 14 days. Therefore, under Czech law, your prescription is no longer valid and the pharmacist does not have to dispense the medicine.
My doctor in Finland always prescribes medicine using electronic prescriptions. Can I use my Finnish e-prescription when I travel to another EU country?
Currently, e-prescriptions issued in Finland can be used cross-border in Croatia, Estonia and Portugal without the need for a paper copy. So, you can use your Finnish e-prescription if you travel to Croatia, Estonia or Portugal, but if you plan to travel to another EU country, you will need to ask your doctor for a paper copy. For e-prescriptions issued in other countries, please see the list of available electronic cross-border health services.