Changes in the issuance and control of medical prescriptions come into effect

As of Wednesday (30), the National System of Income Control (SNCR) of the National Agency of Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) will provide specific functionalities for the issuance and electronic control of medical prescriptions.

In a note, Anvisa stressed that the change does not mean the end of paper revenues or the obligation of electronic issuance. The new stage, according to the agency, only expands the possibilities available to prescribers, prescription systems, pharmacies and drug stores.

According to Anvisa, the adoption of electronic functionalities will be gradual, according to the preparation of each sector and the expected deadlines for each type of revenue.

New products

Among the main novelties is the possibility of electronic issuance of revenue notifications, such as blue and yellow, which, until then, were only issued on paper.

The new step also extends the electronic control of other types of recipes, such as special control recipes and recipes subject to retention, including those for antimicrobials and GLP-1 agonists, popularly known as slimming pens.

“Paper revenues remain valid and continue to be used, in accordance with the rules applicable to each type of revenue,” Anvisa said.

Understand.

The National System of Control of Receipts was created by Anvisa with the aim of centralizing the management and expanding the supervision of prescriptions used in the prescription of medicines subject to special control.

The system came into operation in July 2024, initially to support health surveillance in the granting and control of numbers.

With the SNCR, the numbering of revenue notifications was managed on a national basis. Health surveillance, however, remains responsible for granting and controlling numbers – now with the support of the national system.

What Changes

From September 30, a new emission pathway will be available: the electronic emission integrated into the SNCR.

Revenue notifications can be issued electronically, according to the models and rules defined by Anvisa. Revenue notifications A, B and B2 are considered, in addition to those for systemic retinoids and thalidomide.

“Electronic models are specific for use in prescription systems integrated with SNCR and are different from models intended for printing,” the agency said.

Transition of white recipes

The implementation of electronic functionalities will be gradual. In the case of special control revenues and withholding revenues, called white revenues, there will be a transitional period for integration into the SNCR.

Until October 29, they may coexist:

Revenue on paper;

electronic white recipes without SNCR integration;

electronic white recipes integrated into the SNCR.

“Electronic emission remains a possibility. The services will be able to adopt the new path as they are prepared,” Anvisa said.

As of October 30, when a white recipe is issued electronically, it should be integrated into the SNCR. “This does not mean that electronic emission becomes mandatory. Revenue on paper remains an option, as per applicable rules.”

According to the agency, the logic is to allow a gradual adaptation of the different sectors, without immediately replacing one path by another.

For those who prescribe

According to Anvisa, professionals will continue to use their electronic prescription systems, which must be integrated into the SNCR to use the services necessary for the issuance of electronic prescriptions.

In the case of revenue notifications, the request for the numbering to the local vigilância sanitária remains necessary, remembering that the numberings intended for electronic revenues are different from those intended for physical revenues.

“After the numbering is made available by vigilância sanitária, the prescribing system communicates with the SNCR to issue the electronic prescription, in accordance with the model and applicable rules,” the agency said.

The professional does not need to directly access the SNCR to issue the recipe. “Communication with the system will be made by the electronic prescription service. Anvisa has already made available the technical documentation of the API and training environment so that developers and companies can adapt and test their systems.”

How are pharmacies and drugstores

When receiving an electronic prescription, the establishment can consult the information in the SNCR and use the features available to:

verify the authenticity of the numbering;

confirm the data of the prescriber;

Record the use of the recipe.

The record of the use allows to follow the use of the recipe and contributes to avoid the reuse of the same numbering.

In the electronic revenue notification models, the QR Code will also allow the information to be consulted in the SNCR and facilitate the verification of the numbering and the registration of use.

 

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