Prescription Assessment

Abstract

Upon receipt of a request from a prescriber for a pharmacy preparation, the pharmacist must decide whether the request is appropriate and reasonable, and judge the level of risk associated with proceeding with the request. The pharmacist must also consider the risks of not supplying a medicine which may lead to the patient not receiving treatment. Further discussion with the medical team may be needed. This chapter approaches the risk assessment of the prescription in a structured way, referring to procedures and forms from different countries. The assessment also includes the feasibility of producing a preparation of appropriate pharmaceutical quality and with all necessary clinical information.

Pharmacy legislation defines the framework in which pharmacists can prepare medicines, however there are other legislative and quality frameworks that they must be aware of if other categories of products are requested, such as biocides, medical devices, or placebo’s, or agents used for euthanasia Veterinary and homeopathic medicines are also dealt with, as are raw materials, especially hazardous materials and precursors.

Based upon the chapter Beoordeling recept by André Wissenburg en Frits Boom in the 2009 edition of Recepteerkunde.