Prescriptionbased

Prescriptionbased, often written prescription-based, is an adjective describing policies, systems, or processes that require or rely on a medical prescription to authorize the procurement, use, or access to a product, service, or intervention. In healthcare, the term is most commonly used to refer to medicines that must be prescribed by a clinician rather than obtained over the counter, but it can also apply to devices, tests, or therapies that require professional authorization.

In medicines, prescription-based systems aim to ensure appropriate indication, dosing, and monitoring of safety concerns, particularly for high-risk drugs or substances with potential for misuse. They are a central feature of regulatory frameworks in many countries and support pharmacovigilance, dose adjustment for age or disease, and reconciliation with a patient’s medication list.

Common examples include antibiotics in many jurisdictions, controlled substances, and specialty therapies. The approach is contrasted with over-the-counter access, which allows self-selection.

Pros and cons: Advantages include increased safety, reduced misuse, better tracking of adverse events, and closer alignment with clinical guidelines. Disadvantages include potential barriers to timely treatment, added administrative burden for patients and providers, and possible inequities in access.

In digital health settings, prescription-based models are implemented through electronic prescribing, secure transmission of prescriptions, and integration with electronic health records and pharmacy systems, enabling audit trails and decision support.