Pharmacies can flag prescription errors and safety risks

Pharmacies can contact a prescribing doctor about an unclear prescription, a possible dangerous drug interaction or suspected misuse, Yle reports.

Yle’s MOT programme reported that a journalist obtained weight-loss drug prescriptions from three Finnish chat clinics without an examination. The journalist gave doctors a false account of their weight, and their Kanta records showed a previous history of anorexia. The journalist was at a normal weight when collecting the medicines and was surprised to receive them without further questions.

Pharmacies have a legal duty to try to ensure customers know how to use medicines correctly and safely. The Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea, also has rules requiring pharmacies to check that prescriptions are correct and that medicines have appropriate dosages, said Inka Puumalainen, pharmaceutical director of the Finnish Pharmacy Association.

Only pharmacists and senior pharmacists can dispense medicines. They speak with customers and, when needed, contact the prescribing doctor. A prescription may include a note explaining a use or dosage that differs from treatment guidelines. If the note is missing, the pharmacy may call the doctor to clarify the instructions.

Puumalainen did not comment on the MOT journalist’s case. She said the doctor makes the treatment decision, and the pharmacy’s role is to support it while ensuring medicines are used safely.

Pharmacies may also intervene if they identify a potentially dangerous interaction between a prescribed medicine and an over-the-counter product. If staff suspect deliberate misuse, they may contact the doctor.

Customers are rarely left without a prescribed medicine, according to an annual survey by the Finnish Pharmacy Association. It found that 98 percent receive their prescription medicine from a pharmacy on the same day.