Follow Spanish Immigration and Life in Spain: On September 24, it was reported that there are already 324 pharmacies, 44 medical centers, and 149 medical stations in the Madrid region using electronic prescriptions, with a penetration rate of less than 20%. From the second half of 2013 until the end of 2014, the Madrid region will fully implement electronic prescriptions.
In the Madrid region, out of 270 medical centers (Centro de salud), only 44 have started using electronic prescriptions, which is less than 20% of the total.
Electronic prescriptions digitize each prescription and patient information, entering them into a unified regional medical system. This allows for the retrieval of patient medical records as well as the history of medications purchased, ultimately tracking the patient's treatment regimen and dosage. This electronic information system can break regional boundaries; by simply scanning a barcode or entering a prescription number, relevant information can be accessed. Patients can also purchase medications at any medical center or pharmacy within the region that uses electronic prescriptions.
Since March 2012, the Madrid government has begun trial operations of electronic prescriptions. As of now, 1.56 million electronic prescriptions have been issued, with a total of 140,000 patients having records of electronic prescriptions.
Since the trial operation began in March 2012, the advantages of electronic prescriptions have become evident. This past Tuesday, the President of the Madrid region, Ignacio Gonzales, personally used an electronic prescription at a pharmacy in Villaviciosa de Odón, signaling that the Madrid government will fully roll out the use of electronic prescriptions.
Currently, among the 149 municipalities in Madrid, only 36 have adopted electronic prescriptions. From the second half of this year to the first half of 2014, 60% of pharmacies and medical centers in the Madrid region will adopt electronic prescriptions, and by the end of 2014, the Madrid region will fully implement electronic prescriptions, benefiting 3.1 million residents of Madrid.