The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry for Labour and Social Security and the National Bank of Greece regarding the 1.5 million grant for the implementation of the electronic prescription system was presented during a press conference. The Minister Louka Katseli stated that prescribing medication electronically is a major breakthrough, which will allow the effective monitoring and rationalisation of insurance funds' expenditures and their transparent operation. Mrs. Katseli added that the extension of the system to all social insurance funds, starting 1 May 2011, is expected to yield savings of around €1.4 billion during 2011. She also stated that the operation of the Social Security System so far has been an 'example of mismanagement, lawlessness and diversion'.
The ePrescribing system already operates in two branches of the Greek Social Security Organisation (IKA), in Peristeri and Agia Paraskevi, while at the end of January 2011 the Civil Servants 'Sickness Insurance Fund (OPAD) is expected to be partially integrated too. The Farmers' Insurance Organisation - (OGA) and the rest of the social insurance funds are expected to join the system on 1 March and 1 April 2011 respectively.
On behalf of the National Bank, Mr. Apostolos Tamvakakis stressed that the National Bank believes that funding the electronic prescribing project will help to enhance the transparency of the expenditure of funds and ensure their sustainability.
The Deputy Minister for Labour George Koutroumanis noted that electronic prescriptions will improve the quality of services and facilitate public access to them. He also added that the health booklet will be of no use while the access of the insured to medication will be facilitated. He concluded by saying that the phenomenon of polypharmacy, which is a risk to public health, will be minimised.
Mr. Koutroumanis forecasted that annual spending on drugs will be reduced from €10.6 billion to €7 billion by 2012.
Further information:
- Original news article - HealthView (in Greek)
- Related ePractice News Article - GR: The Insurance Organisation for the Self-employed will be the first to issue electronic prescriptions
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Quelle/Source: epractice, 17.02.2011
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