Suitable prescribing guidelines with the integration on the ePrescription system (mandatory or simply advisory to the prescribing doctor), ensures patient access to quality health service, while at the same time has the potential of containing costs, according to real health needs and in alignment with evidence-based medicine principles. This is a much more efficient and scientifically sound way of cost containment, compared to horizontal cut measures (claw-back, rebate, positive/nega-tive lists of medicines, etc), usually employed as emergency measures in austerity policies.

1. Karanikas, M. Papadakis, E. Thireos, “Development Of Prescription E-Protocols For Medicines And Integration On The Greek National E-Prescription System”, Value in Health, Vol. 18, Issue 7, A385, Published in issue: November 2015