The Prescription

By definition a prescription is a written order and instruction by a registered physician to the

pharmacist for the specific use of a drug product for a patient. It has two types - the ordinary
and the narcotic prescription.

Parts of Prescription Order

1. Date
2. Patient profile (this includes the age, sex, address etc.). Superscription (Rx symbol-
recipe, meaning to take or give)
3. Subscription (dispensing direction to the pharmacist on compounding a drug)
4. Inscription (principal part of the prescription that gives the name of the drug and the
required quantity)
5. Signa (direction to the patient on how to use the drug)
6. Signature of the prescriber including his license number

Reading the Prescription

Pharmacy personnel rely on three things - the patient profile, inscription and the signa.

Since the inscription includes the name of the drug, they will automatically look for it. If the
inscription is unreadable or lacking the generic name, the Pharmacist or his assistant would
check the drug in the drug index. Established, deleted or newly registered drugs may not be
found in the Mims or drug index. If that would be the case, they tend to pay attention to the
patient profile or the signa. Most likely, they also ask questions about the patient’s condition. If
the customer is unsure of his medicine, the drug outlet won’t be able to fill the prescription.
They may call the prescriber but often, they would advise the customer that they should return
their prescription to their physician.

Erroneous Prescriptions
 Where the brand name precedes the generic name
 Where the generic name is the one in parenthesis
 Where the brand name is not in parentheses
 Where more than one drug product is prescribed on one prescription form.
What to Do with Erroneous Prescriptions
Erroneous prescriptions shall be filed. Such prescription shall also be kept and reported by the
pharmacist of the drug outlet or any other interested party to the nearest DOH office for
appropriate action.

Violative Prescriptions
 Where generic name is not written
 Where the generic name is not legible and a brand name which is legible is written
 When the brand name is indicated and instructions added (such as the phrase "
no substitution") which tend to obstruct, hinder or prevent proper generic dispensing.

What to Do with Violative Prescriptions

Violative prescriptions shall not be filed. They are kept and reported by the pharmacist of drug
outlet or any other interested party to the nearest DOH office for appropriate action. The
pharmacist shall advise the prescriber of the problem and/or instruct the customer to get the
proper prescription.

Impossible Prescriptions
 When only the generic name is written but it is not legible.
 When the generic name does not correspond to the brand name
 When both the generic name and the brand name are not legible
 When the drug product prescribed is not registered with FDA

What to Do with Impossible Prescriptions

Impossible prescription shall not be filed. They shall be and reported by the pharmacist of drug
outlet or any other interested party to the nearest DOH office for appropriate action. The
pharmacist shall advise the prescriber of the problem and/or instruct the customer to get the
proper prescription.

Note: In all cases enumerated in violative and impossible prescriptions, the local DOH office
shall be responsible for giving written notice to the erring doctor concerned and for
transmitting through channels the report of violation/error to the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) or to the fiscal's office for appropriate action.
 Samples of Erroneous, Violative and Impossible Prescriptions

Erroneous Prescriptions

Where the brand name precedes the Where the brand name is not in
generic name parentheses

Where the generic name is the one in Where more than one drug product is
parenthesis prescribed on one prescription form
OR
Where the brand name is not in
parentheses
OR
Where the brand name precedes the
generic name
 Samples of Erroneous, Violative and Impossible Prescriptions

Violative Prescriptions

Where generic name is not written

Where the generic name is not legible and a brand name which is legible is written

When the brand name is indicated and instructions added (such as the phrase
“no substitution") which tend to obstruct, hinder or prevent proper generic dispensing.
 Samples of Erroneous, Violative and Impossible Prescriptions

Impossible Prescriptions

When only the generic name is written but When both the generic name and the
it is not legible. brand name are not legible

When the generic name does not When the drug product prescribed is
correspond to the brand name not registered with FDA