Onishchenko: Electronic Prescription System Will Not Work in Armenia

The introduction of a system in Armenian pharmacies to dispense medications only via electronic prescriptions was a correct decision, but it should have been implemented gradually. This viewpoint was expressed by Gennady Onishchenko, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Vice President of the Russian Academy of Education, during a video bridge on the theme of "Biosecurity in the EAEU countries" involving Moscow, Astana, Bishkek, Yerevan, and Minsk (with the involvement of the Sputnik Armenia press center platform).

According to him, the implementation method often obscures all the advantages. As of March 1, around 470 types of medications have been added to the list of drugs prescribed solely via electronic prescriptions in Armenia, including antibiotics, antifungals, and several other categories.

"I follow the healthcare situation in Armenia closely because many factors connect me to it: both the Spitak earthquake and Nagorno-Karabakh. I know many healthcare ministers in Armenia personally. Principally, you have chosen the right path by making a strategic decision regarding nearly 80% of medications being dispensed through electronic prescriptions. What is the mistake? The implementation from March 1 was a voluntaristic decision. Judging by the reports from Armenian media, the minister 'said so, and that was it.' It seems like they are turning the columns upside down. Such decisions cannot be made. First of all, the older generation is not prepared for this," Onishchenko believes.

He recalled that a similar issue arose in Moscow a few years ago when electronic registration with doctors was introduced. According to the academician, at that time, elderly Muscovites faced challenges in mastering electronic technology, unlike the youth, for whom using computers is as routine as using a pen is for older generations.

Onishchenko added that in addition to patients needing to be computer literate, there must also be stable software that doesn’t fail at the most inconvenient moments: "The electronic prescription system must be implemented; there’s no escaping it, especially concerning medications with benefits. It is true that the system primarily applies to antibiotics and antiviral medications, which are often consumed based on someone’s recommendation, subsequently leading to drug resistance. However, this must be done gradually," he insists.

The academician considers it particularly important to ensure accessibility to this system throughout the entire republic, not just in Yerevan. Specifically, there may be difficulties in obtaining medications in remote villages where access to computers and stable internet connections is limited.