If your doctor gives you an e-prescription,
you can decide whether you want to use the printout
or use an app to redeem it digitally in a pharmacy.
The official app is called “Das E-Rezept” (“the E-Prescription”)
and is available free of charge from the usual app stores.
After you open the app,
you’ll get a short introductory message about registration and use.
You can use the app to scan the prescription code on the printout of your prescription.
This stores the receipt in the app.
At the pharmacy, you can then scan the prescription code
from the app directly to receive your medication.
Equally, you can bring the paper printout of your prescription to the pharmacy
and present it there.
However, there’s lots more that the app can do once you register.
There are two ways to do this:
To register with your medical data card,
you need an NFC-enabled medical data card and PIN
from your health insurance provider,
which enables near-field communication.
The card can be identified by the six-digit access number on the top right.
If you don’t have this card or if you don’t have the separate PIN,
you can request these from your health insurance provider.
After you select this option,
the app guides you step by step through the registration process.
Alternatively, you can register using your health insurance provider’s app,
if this function is supported in their app.
To do this, first select your health insurance provider
from a list in the E-Prescription app at registration.
This brings you directly to your health insurance provider’s app,
which establishes a connection to the E-Prescription app after you register.
Regardless of which registration process you use,
you’ll then receive all prescriptions from the last 100 days,
and all new prescriptions will automatically be sent to your E-Prescription app.
You’ll also be able to view information about the prescribed medication,
instructions for taking your medication
and the duration for which the prescription remains valid.
You can use the app to digitally reserve or order
the prescribed medication from a pharmacy of your choice,
which saves from making two trips to the pharmacy.
A filter function allows you to select a pharmacy based on certain criteria,
such as opening times, courier service or delivery options.
You can also manage prescriptions for family members in the app –
for example, for children or parents in need of care.
To do this, you need to register these family members in the app also,
using one of the options described above.
To prevent the same prescription from being redeemed twice,
each prescription can be assigned to only one pharmacy.
To sum up:
An e-prescription can be redeemed on paper or digitally.
For the digital option, you need the E-prescription app.
When you log in to the app,
you can see all the details of your prescription.
The app also allows you
to redeem the prescription digitally at a pharmacy.
This saves time and unnecessary journeys.