E-signature becomes mandatory at hospitals in Turkey

Orhan Kılıç, the chairman of E-imzatr, said in a statement that all medics without an e-signature will not be able to issue prescriptions while patients without an e-signature will not be able to receive medicine from pharmacies as of Oct. 1.

Kılıç said 90 percent of electronic prescriptions are currently issued with electronic signatures in Turkey, according to investigations by the Social Security Institution (SSK).

He added that electronic prescriptions help prevent the buying of incorrect drugs while hospitals, doctors, pharmacies and patients get the medicine name, diagnosis, protocol number, date, and name of the doctor from the pharmacy.  

Urging all public and private hospitals to review their technical infrastructure before October, Kılıç said the SSK would provide assistance for securing an e-signature in e-prescription applications.