E-prescription

What is an e-prescription?

An e-prescription is a doctor’s prescription that is issued and transmitted electronically rather than on paper. In practice, you receive for example a QR code via an app, by email or as a printout, which the pharmacy scans. The pharmacy can then see which medicine has been prescribed at what dosage and can check that the prescription is genuine and has not been altered.

In terms of content, an e-prescription does not differ from a paper prescription. Both must contain the same minimum information. The difference lies in the signature and the means of transmission: on paper, the doctor signs by hand. Electronically, a qualified electronic signature is required, or a means of transmission that guarantees authenticity, data integrity and confidentiality with comparable security.

The e-prescription must be distinguished from two related terms:

• Electronic patient record (EPR). The EPR is a collection of your health documents. An e-prescription can be stored there, but does not have to be. If it is integrated, the EPR exchange formats apply.
• Electronic medication plan. It lists all the medicines you are supposed to take. The pending revision of the Therapeutic Products Act also aims to make it binding.

E-prescriptions are particularly important in telemedicine, because the doctor cannot hand you a piece of paper there.

How it works

An e-prescription goes through four steps:

1. Issue. The doctor enters the prescription in the practice software and signs it electronically.
2. Handover. You receive the prescription as a code or document, or the practice sends it to a pharmacy at your request.
3. Redemption. The pharmacy checks the signature and content, dispenses the medicine and records the dispensing. Depending on the system, the prescription is marked as redeemed so that it cannot be used more than once.
4. Billing. If the medicine is covered by basic health insurance, the pharmacy bills your health insurer, either directly or through you, depending on the contract. As always, you pay the deductible and retention fee.

The prescription belongs to you. You decide whether to obtain the medicine, whether to get a second opinion and at which pharmacy to redeem the prescription. With electronic prescriptions, this choice must not be restricted by technical obstacles. In addition, the prescriber may not influence your choice of pharmacy if they gain a material advantage from doing so.

Whether basic health insurance pays does not depend on the form of the prescription. What matters is whether the medicine has been prescribed by a doctor and is on the List of Pharmaceutical Specialties (SL) or is otherwise covered by basic health insurance.

Legal basis

The principles for prescriptions are set out in Art. 26 of the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA). Under Art. 26 para. 2 TPA, a medicine may be prescribed only if the patient’s state of health is known. Art. 26 para. 2bis let. b TPA states that the prescription becomes the property of the person for whom it was issued, that this person is free to decide where to redeem it, and that with electronic prescriptions the choice of provider must not be restricted by technical obstacles. Under Art. 26 para. 3 TPA, the prescriber may not influence the choice of the person dispensing the medicine if they gain a material advantage from doing so. Art. 26 para. 4 TPA requires, in principle, a prescription before any prescription-only medicine is dispensed; you can waive this.

The minimum information is governed by Art. 51 para. 1 of the Medicinal Products Ordinance (VAM). Under Art. 51 para. 2 VAM, a paper prescription must be signed by hand; electronic prescriptions can be given a qualified electronic signature or transmitted in a way that ensures authenticity, data integrity and confidentiality with comparable security. If the e-prescription is integrated into the electronic patient record, the EPR exchange formats apply under Art. 51 para. 4 VAM.

The planned obligation is part of revision 3a of the Therapeutic Products Act (business 25.074). The Federal Council adopted the dispatch on 03.09.2025. The National Council adopted the bill on 12.03.2026. As of 25.09.2026, the business is pending in Parliament; there is no date yet for its entry into force. The coverage of medicines is governed by Art. 25 para. 2 let. b and Art. 52 of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), and co-payment by Art. 64 KVG.

Example: a medicine with an e-prescription and with a paper prescription

Sarah is 47, has a deductible of CHF 300 and has already used it up this year. After a video consultation, she receives an e-prescription for a medicine covered by basic health insurance. We assume a price of CHF 64.50 for illustration. The calculation uses the statutory retention fee of 10%.

What this means for you

For you as an insured person, the e-prescription is mainly a question of process, not of cost.

1. Ask about the format. If your practice offers e-prescriptions, ask how you will receive the code and whether you can print it out.
2. Choose your pharmacy freely. You do not have to redeem an e-prescription where the practice would like to send it.
3. Keep an eye on costs. You can collect bills and statements in your customer account. The premium calculator shows what basic health insurance costs you overall.
4. Check telemedicine models. If you are insured under a telemedicine model, you often receive prescriptions remotely. You can find the insurers’ models in the profiles under Health insurers.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the e-prescription is already mandatory. As of 25.09.2026, the revision is pending in Parliament. Paper prescriptions remain valid.
• Believing an e-prescription makes a medicine covered by basic health insurance. Coverage is not decided by the form of the prescription, but by whether basic health insurance covers the medicine.
• Confusing the e-prescription with the EPR. An e-prescription can end up in the EPR, but does not require one.
• Passing on the code carelessly. The e-prescription contains health data and belongs to you. Give the code or document only to the pharmacy where you want to redeem it.

We explain how we build examples under How we calculate.