In a major step to facilitate the purchase of prescription drugs in Israel, the Labor, Welfare & Health Committee of the Knesset, headed by MK (Kulanu) Eli Elalouf, approved the second and third readings of MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Oded Forer’s bill and other MKs on Wednesday morning, allowing HMO members to purchase drugs via digital prescription at any pharmacy.

Thus, each pharmacy will be able to connect to the computerized systems of the health funds (kupat cholim) at a reasonable cost and with limitations to protect the privacy of the insured.

To date, with the introduction of digital prescriptions, a subscriber of a kupat cholim may visit the HMO’s pharmacy and purchase prescription drugs without a print out. However, this is limited to a pharmacy of that HMO.

Now, one will be able to fill one’s prescription in any pharmacy that has hooked into the system. This will make buying one’s medications more convenient, with more pharmacies to choose from.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)