The majority of Romanian doctors and health units – 87 percent - prescribed at least one electronic prescription by the end of 2012, while 90 percent of the pharmacies in the system issued drugs from an electronic prescription, according to Agerpres newswire. End – 2012, over 11,200 doctors were part of the new system, along with some 4,400 pharmacies. The electronic prescription became mandatory on January 1, 2013, and doctors that have not signed up to the new electronic system will not be able to issue prescriptions.

The next step in the modernization of Romania's health system is the health card, which will include basic data about the person: name, unique health insurance number - different to the personal identification number CNP, as well as medical information.

The card will allow authorities to check whether the person holds medical insurance or not, as well as offer information to specialists about medical data.

Patients will have to give their approval for their medical data to be uploaded on the card: contact person for emergencies, blood group, whether they are organ donors and whether they have chronic diseases.

Electronic health cards will be issued and distributed in the first part of 2013 with costa covered by the Health Ministry.

editor@romania-insider.com