Health and Welfare News in Brief

Abstract

With the growing utilization of e-prescriptions, the use of online prescription information as part of personal health records has gained increasing attention. The EU has built an international system of e-prescription and e-dispensation that enables users to overcome geographic and linguistic barriers. Japan last year adopted the use of e-prescriptions and, by linking online prescription information with the patient’s “electronic medication notebooks,” allowed physicians and pharmacists to keep track of all the medication intakes. The EU and Japan exemplify how online prescription information can enhance the quality of health care services and make medication intake safer and more effective.