How Hi Doctor's Electronic Prescriptions Work for Patients in Spain

Hi Doctor connects patients in Spain with EU-licensed doctors online. If a doctor approves your treatment after reviewing your medical questionnaire, the prescription is issued electronically and, for patients in Spain, goes through the country's own prescription system, where a pharmacist reviews it and decides whether to dispense. This guide explains how that works, what information the prescription carries, and what the EU rules on cross-border healthcare mean for you.

Key Takeaways

• Hi Doctor's EU-licensed doctors issue electronic prescriptions when it is clinically appropriate to do so.
• For patients in Spain, the prescription goes through the country's own prescription system.
• A pharmacist reviews the prescription and decides whether to dispense, and may offer a locally marketed equivalent.
• EU rules on cross-border healthcare provide the background on how prescriptions are recognised between Member States.
• Hi Doctor's EU-licensed doctors review consultations and issue prescriptions when appropriate, typically within 24 hours.

What Is an Electronic Prescription?

An electronic prescription is a digital document issued by a doctor after a consultation. It contains all the information a pharmacist needs to review your case, replacing the traditional handwritten slip. On Hi Doctor, your prescription is generated only after an EU-licensed doctor has reviewed your questionnaire and decided that the requested treatment is appropriate for your health needs.

The shift to electronic prescribing reflects a wider European move towards digital healthcare. Prescriptions become clearer, easier to verify and less prone to error, which supports both patient safety and convenience.

How Does the Prescription Work for Patients in Spain?

If you are in Spain, using a Hi Doctor prescription is straightforward. Once a doctor approves your treatment, the prescription is issued electronically and goes through the country's own prescription system. You receive it as a PDF with a unique QR code in your secure account inbox.

At the pharmacy, the pharmacist reviews the prescription in the local system, often by scanning the QR code, to confirm the details. This verification step is what makes the process secure and helps prevent errors. The pharmacist then decides whether to dispense, and may dispense a locally marketed equivalent containing the same active ingredient. Availability of a particular medicine is always a matter for the pharmacist.

Is the Prescription Recognised Across the European Union?

EU rules on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare (Directive 2011/24/EU) provide a framework for recognising a prescription issued in another Member State for a medicine authorised on a country's territory. Commission Implementing Directive 2012/52/EU sets out the elements a cross-border prescription should carry. These include patient identification, prescriber identification and professional qualification, and clear identification of the medicine, ideally by its International Nonproprietary Name (INN). Hi Doctor's electronic prescriptions are structured to include these details.

Directive 2011/24/EU provides a framework for EU citizens to access healthcare in other Member States and have their prescriptions recognised.

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Recognition in practice always depends on the pharmacist's review. A pharmacist will examine the prescription and may dispense a locally marketed equivalent with the same active ingredient. They retain the right to decline if they have concerns about authenticity, legibility or clinical appropriateness under local rules.

What Information Is Included in an Electronic Prescription?

To support verification and patient safety, Hi Doctor's electronic prescriptions contain specific, detailed information so that a pharmacist can understand and check the prescription.

Category	Required Information	Purpose
Patient Identification	Full name, date of birth, gender, contact details	Ensures correct patient receives medication
Prescriber Identification	Full name, professional qualification, contact details, country of practice	Verifies the prescribing doctor's legitimacy
Medication Details	International Nonproprietary Name (INN), strength, dosage form, quantity, posology (how to use)	Guarantees correct medication and usage
Prescription Details	Date of issue, unique identifier (e.g., QR code), validity period	Authenticates and tracks the prescription

How Hi-Doctor Can Help with Electronic Prescriptions

Hi Doctor provides a convenient and secure way to consult an EU-licensed doctor online and, if clinically appropriate, to receive an electronic prescription. The process is entirely online, respecting your privacy and time.

1. Patient completes secure medical questionnaire online
2. EU-licensed doctor reviews questionnaire
3. Doctor issues electronic prescription (PDF + QR code)
4. Prescription delivered to patients secure account inbox
5. Patient presents the prescription at a pharmacy, where the pharmacist reviews it
6. Consultation fee refunded in full
7. Patient receives guidance from medical team

After you complete a secure medical questionnaire for one of the treatment areas Hi-Doctor covers, an EU-licensed doctor reviews your information. This doctor makes a professional decision on whether the requested treatment and an associated prescription are appropriate for your specific health needs. If approved, the doctor issues an electronic prescription, typically within 24 hours. For patients in Spain, that prescription goes through the country's own prescription system, and it is delivered directly to your secure account inbox.

Hi-Doctor's doctors review and, when clinically appropriate, issue prescriptions in under 24 hours, ensuring timely access to treatment.

The consultation fee covers the doctor's assessment and, if appropriate, the issuance of an electronic prescription. If, for any clinical reason, a prescription cannot be issued, your consultation fee is refunded in full. This commitment ensures that you only pay for the medical review and guidance, with a full refund if treatment is not approved.