The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) said physicians can continue issuing electronic prescriptions for dangerous drugs to their patients despite no extension of the COVID-19 state of calamity.
In a Feb. 1 advisory, DDB chairman Catalino Cuy stated that the use of electronic prescription and traditional prescription forms in prescribing dangerous drugs is still permitted because the state of public health emergency declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 922 Series of 2020 remains in effect.
Cuy stated over the phone that the advisory was issued in response to doctor inquiries about whether they could still give electronic prescriptions for dangerous drugs to their patients.
The DDB first issued the advisory in March 2020, when the government of then-President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a lockdown due to COVID-19, restricting face-to-face transactions to prevent the spread of the virus, which had no vaccines at the time.
It stated that a patient or an authorized representative may present an electronic prescription for dangerous drugs in drugstores and pharmacies.
Cuy stated that the policy would remain in effect until the government declares a public health emergency.
