Reseptuuri

Reseptuuri is the practice and system surrounding the prescription of medicines within the Finnish health care system. It encompasses the clinical decision to treat a patient with a medicine, the written or electronic instruction that specifies the medicine, dose, route, duration and any refills, and the subsequent dispensing by a pharmacist. The term can refer both to the act of prescribing and to the broader field that governs how medicines are prescribed, dispensed, and monitored for safety and effectiveness.

Participants include physicians, nurse prescribers, dentists and other health professionals authorized to prescribe medicines, as well as pharmacists who dispense and advise on medications. The reseptuuri is guided by professional standards, clinical guidelines, and the legal framework governing medical practice, patient data protection, and controlled substances. It emphasizes rational pharmacotherapy, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and medication reconciliation.

Forms and technology: While traditional paper prescriptions exist, electronic prescriptions have become common. In Finland, electronic prescription systems are integrated with national health information infrastructures to enable safe dispensing, refill management, and data sharing while protecting patient privacy.

Regulatory context and impact: The reseptuuri is regulated by national legislation on prescribing, pharmacy practice and medical liability. It supports pharmacovigilance and public health goals by enabling monitoring of prescribing patterns and adverse drug events.

History and scope: The concept developed with advances in clinical pharmacology and the professionalization of prescribing. The ongoing digitization of prescriptions has transformed workflow, reduced errors, and improved access to medication information for patients and providers.