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How Hi Doctor's Electronic Prescriptions Work for Patients Across the EU
This guide explains how Hi Doctor's electronic prescriptions work for patients across the EU — where we connect with the local prescription system, and how a pharmacy elsewhere reviews the prescription and decides whether it can dispense…
DIRECT ANSWER
An online consultation lets an EU-licensed doctor review your case and, if appropriate, issue an electronic prescription; each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense it.
Doctor reply in under 2 hours
Average doctor reply under 2 hours; at night and on public holidays it can take longer, always within 24 hours. A prescription only if appropriate.
EU-licensed doctors
Every case is reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor.
Electronic prescription
Each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense an approved prescription; some do not accept PDF prescriptions.
Key Takeaways
- In several EU countries, including Italy, France, Belgium and Ireland, Hi Doctor connects with the local prescription system.
- Elsewhere, patients receive an electronic prescription signed by an EU-licensed doctor, and each pharmacy reviews it and decides whether it can dispense it.
- A pharmacist may dispense a locally marketed equivalent of the same active ingredient.
- Always have the prescription PDF to hand, printed or on your phone, so the pharmacist has every detail they need.
- Medication availability can vary by country; a pharmacist may need to order a specific product or suggest an alternative.
- Hi Doctor's EU-licensed doctors issue prescriptions only if clinically appropriate, with a refund if no prescription is given.
What is an EU Electronic Prescription and How Does It Travel?
An electronic prescription signed by an EU-licensed doctor contains all the essential information required for a prescription: the patient's details, the prescribing doctor's information (including their EU country of practice), and the medication's active ingredient, dosage and form. The legal background for cross-border use stems from EU Directive 2011/24/EU, which sets out patients' rights in cross-border healthcare and supports the recognition of prescriptions issued in another member state, provided certain information requirements are met. Recognition does not remove the pharmacist's own review: they assess the prescription in front of them and decide whether they can dispense it.
What information must a cross-border prescription contain?
To be usable across EU borders, a prescription should include specific details that support patient safety and proper dispensing. These typically include:
- Patient's full name, date of birth, and contact details.
- Date of issue of the prescription.
- Details of the prescribing health professional: full name, professional qualification, direct contact details, work address, and signature (handwritten or electronic).
- Details of the prescribed product: common name (International Non-proprietary Name or INN) of the active substance, formulation (tablet, solution, etc.), strength, dosage, and administration route.
Hi Doctor's prescription format is built around these requirements, so the pharmacist has what they need to review it.
How Does the Dispensing Process Work in Another EU Country?
The experience depends on where you are. In several EU countries, including Italy, France, Belgium and Ireland, Hi Doctor connects with the local prescription system, so the prescription reaches the pharmacy through the channel that country uses. Elsewhere, you simply present the PDF of your electronic prescription, and the pharmacist reviews it and decides whether it can be dispensed.
Steps to obtain your medication in another EU country:
- Present the PDF: Provide the pharmacist with the printed or digital PDF version of your prescription.
- Pharmacist Review: The pharmacist will review the prescription to ensure it contains all the necessary information and that the active ingredient is available in their country.
- Local Equivalent: If the exact brand name is not available, the pharmacist may dispense a locally marketed equivalent containing the same active ingredient, dose, and form.
- Dispensing: Once the prescription has been reviewed and a suitable medication identified, the pharmacist will dispense the medication.
- Patient receives the prescription PDF from Hi-Doctor
- Patient travels to another EU country
- Patient presents the prescription PDF at a local pharmacy
- Pharmacist reviews the prescription details
- Pharmacist checks whether a local equivalent is available
- Pharmacist explains the situation and may suggest alternatives
- Pharmacist dispenses medication where they decide they can
- Patient may need to seek an alternative pharmacy or medical advice
Practical Considerations and Potential Challenges
Real-world dispensing can sometimes present minor hurdles. Understanding these can help you navigate the process smoothly.
Medication Availability
Not all medications are marketed under the same brand names, or even always available, in every EU country. A pharmacist may need to source a specific product, which could take time, or suggest an alternative if the prescribed medication is not stocked. It is always the active ingredient that is key.
Pharmacist Discretion
Pharmacists retain the right to decline to dispense a medication if they have concerns about its authenticity, the patient's identity, or the clinical appropriateness of the prescription in their local context. This is a professional safeguard. However, a properly formatted prescription from an EU-licensed doctor gives the pharmacist the information they need to carry out that review.
| Factor | Where Hi Doctor connects with the local system | Where you present a prescription PDF |
|---|---|---|
| How it reaches the pharmacy | Through the local prescription system Hi Doctor connects with | The pharmacist reviews the PDF document |
| Medication Availability | Handled within the local system's process | A local equivalent of the active ingredient may be dispensed |
| Processing Time | Varies by country and pharmacy | May take longer for pharmacist review or sourcing |
| Pharmacist Discretion | Exercised within the local system's process | Based on manual review and local regulations |
| Payment | Direct payment at pharmacy | Direct payment at pharmacy (reimbursement varies by national health system) |
EU Directive 2011/24/EU supports the recognition of prescriptions issued in one Member State in the others, facilitating cross-border healthcare for citizens — while the pharmacist still reviews each prescription and decides whether to dispense it.
Don't see your condition on Hi-Doctor yet?
Hi-Doctor is continuously onboarding EU-licensed specialists across new conditions. Register your interest and we'll notify you the moment a doctor is available for your case. In the meantime, see how the service works: €25 online consultation, reply within 24 h, full refund if the doctor decides the treatment isn't appropriate.
How Hi-Doctor Can Help
Hi Doctor provides a streamlined, online process to connect with EU-licensed doctors for consultations in hair growth, weight management, and sexual health. Our doctors review your secure medical questionnaire and, if clinically appropriate, issue an electronic prescription signed by an EU-licensed doctor. In several EU countries, including Italy, France, Belgium and Ireland, Hi Doctor connects with the local prescription system; elsewhere, the prescription PDF is yours to present at a pharmacy, where the pharmacist reviews it and decides whether it can be dispensed.
The consultation costs EUR 25. This fee covers the comprehensive questionnaire review and a doctor's assessment. If a prescription is approved, it is issued in under 24 hours. If the doctor determines that a prescription is not appropriate for your case, the consultation fee is refunded in full. We prioritize patient safety and appropriate medical care above all else, ensuring that a prescription is never guaranteed, but rather a decision made by a qualified medical professional.
Hi-Doctor has supported over 50,000 patients with online consultations and maintains a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating, reflecting our commitment to patient care and satisfaction.
Your interest guides which specialists we add next.
If your treatment isn't yet among Hi-Doctor's covered specialties, register at hi-doctor.ai so a doctor can notify you the moment we can handle your case. Our EU-licensed doctors issue electronic prescriptions as a PDF that each pharmacy reviews and decides whether it can dispense, and if the doctor decides the treatment isn't appropriate, the €25 consultation fee is refunded automatically.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
A: While a digital PDF on your phone may be accepted, it is always advisable to have a printed copy. This can prevent issues if a pharmacy cannot easily work with digital documents or if there are connectivity problems.
