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Transition to electronic prescriptions in pharmacies: Workflows, services, and access to medication - A mixed methods
Alexander Graf1, Maike Henningsen1, Maximillian Zinner1
1Witten/Herdecke University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Alfred Herrhausen-Strasse 50, 58448 Witten, Germany.
Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
|February 12, 2026
Summary
Electronic prescriptions in Germany face challenges like technical errors and low patient digital literacy, limiting their potential to improve medication access. Enhancements are needed for successful implementation.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Health Informatics
- Digital Health
Background:
- Declining pharmacy numbers in Germany impact medication access.
- Pharmacies offer digital services to improve access, but pre-2022 electronic prescriptions were cumbersome.
- Introduction of electronic prescriptions (ePs) aimed to streamline services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the challenges and potentials of electronic prescriptions in German pharmacies.
- To assess pharmacist perspectives on the transition to ePs.
- To understand the impact of ePs on pharmacy workflows and patient services.
Main Methods:
- A two-stage sequential mixed methods approach was employed.
- Included semi-structured interviews with pharmacists.
- An online survey of 1215 pharmacists provided quantitative data.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of pharmacists supported ePs, while 37% opposed.
- Widespread technical errors (90.5%) disrupted dispensing and services.
- Over half felt ePs worsened in-pharmacy pick-up, with mixed effects on digital services.
Conclusions:
- ePs present significant challenges for pharmacists, including technical instability and workflow complexity.
- Potential benefits for patient access are limited by current issues.
- Improving technical stability, profitability, and patient readiness is crucial for realizing ePs' potential.
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