European e-Prescriptions: Benefits and Success Factors

Electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) are an important component of digital health systems for the future, promising increased efficiency, better patient safety through error reduction, and increased patient convenience. The topic is high on the agendas of national and EU policymakers, particularly as it forms part of the vision for a single digital market and cross-border healthcare in Europe. This paper examines the economic, health, and social benefits of e-prescriptions, as well as their realisation within different time frames of policy implementation. Based on previous evidence and expert interviews for case studies of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden, this work analyses to what extent existing models of e-prescription implementation can determine implications for their wider utilisation across Europe. The findings confirm some economic benefits, such as efficiency gains for prescribers and dispensers, savings arising from transparency, fraud reduction, and reduced printing costs; health benefits such as reduced medication errors, better accessibility of medicines, increased monitoring of adherence to physician recommendations, and aggregate analysis of health data; and social benefits around patient satisfaction with the health system, financial relief for society, and social care for the elderly. Whether these benefits are realised, however, depends on the country’s baseline system—and above all, on how e-prescriptions are implemented and embedded in sociotechnical systems. The case studies also reveal seven success factors for introducing e-prescriptions and realising their benefits: the maturity of information technology in the health system, thoughtful process and system design, facilitation of standards, strong leadership and stakeholder alignment, incentives and change management, trust and digital readiness among the population and workforce, and the existence of a suitable implementation plan. Overall, the paper seeks to enhance understanding of the societal value of e-prescriptions and supports their further diffusion in Europe through recommendations for practice and policymaking.