DOC2US SOP Medicine Prescription

Dispensation Policy

Introduction

DOC2US is a mobile telemedicine platform allowing the general public and corporate partners to connect with their professional healthcare providers (HCP) like doctors and pharmacists. DOC2US also provides an electronic prescription for the general public and corporate partners to refill their long-term medications. In the vision to improve the health and well-being of all mankind, proper medication and patient safety remains as DOC2US top priority. As such, this dispensation policy is put in place to safeguard our patients and to improve the overall dispensing experience of our customers.

Under this dispensation policy, DOC2US carries out good governance practices in accordance with the Framework for Good Governance 2009 by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia to ensure ethical delivery of health and medication services. The medications dispensed under DOC2US services are in accordance with the Guide to Good Dispensing Practice 2016 by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia to ensure patients receive the medications correctly through which adherence can be improved, the occurrence of adverse reactions minimised and medication errors avoided.

Medications Classifications

The medications supplied under DOC2US can be classified into the following categories:

1. Group B Medication

This group refers to medication requires a valid prescription certified by an MMC-registered physician in order to be dispensed. A valid prescription shall include the signature, address & dated by prescriber, name, identification number & address of the patient, the dose, quantity & instruction of taking medication, as mandated by the Laws of Malaysia Poison Act 1952 Regulation 21, 2006.

The e-prescription issued by DOC2US is digitally signed by the prescriber and contains all information mandated.

Examples of Group B Medications: Atorvastatin, Amlodipine, Sildenafil

2. Group C Medication

This group refers to medication requires a patient’s personal information to be recorded in order to be dispensed. The information needed from the patient are name, address of the patient and name, dose, the quantity of the medication supplied and the date of purchase, as mandated by the Laws of Malaysia Poison Act 1952 Regulation 24, 2006.

Examples of Group C Medications: Metformin, Cetirizine, Cloperastine

3. Group NP Medication/ Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug

This group refers to medication that does not require an e-prescription and can be sold over the counter. Medications in this group must be registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) as mandated by the Drug Registration Guidance Document by NPRA, 2016.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND PATIENT CARE

  1. All medical professionals including doctors, who are listed in the DOC2US platform shall be screened through and verified by the Medical Board in ensuring only fully qualified medical professionals are listed on the platform.
  2. All registered medical professionals (RMP) listed in the DOC2US platform shall be registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and has a valid practising certificate.
  3. Only gazetted specialists (with or without the NSR) shall be listed as a specialist.
  4. All RMP shall practice telemedicine in accordance with the MMC’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Code & Guidelines.
  5. The standard of practice of telemedicine on DOC2US should not be any lower than a physical practice.
  6. Prescription of medicine and laboratory testings shall be done by RMP only.
  7. RMP shall take full responsibility and take proactive steps to ensure that their login credentials are not used by any other party apart from themselves.
  8. Telemedicine is NOT meant for a medical emergency. RMP shall ensure that the practice of telemedicine does not involve any emergency or life-threatening situations.
  9. RMP may choose to provide virtual consultation and care to selected acute medical cases at their own discretion. RMP may also use DOC2US as a follow-up tool for their own patients if medically indicated.
  10. RMP shall always ensure that patients’ safety is the top priority.

PRESCRIPTION OF MEDICINE

  1. DOC2US has a strict prescribing policy developed and vetted by the Medical Board in ensuring safe and ethical prescribing and dispensing of medicine. RMP MUST adhere to the “3C” approach when prescribing:
    1. Control. Patients show good control of their chronic conditions
    2. Compliance. Patients need to show good compliance to their medications.
    3. Cautious side effects. Patients need to be free from any cautious side effect of drugs.
  2. RMP shall NOT prescribe any medications to any patients that do not comply with any of the “C”s.
  3. RMP shall always advocate and embark on the “3E” approach in handling patients online. The three E’s are :
    1. Education. Doctors are to educate patients on their current health conditions as well as health promotion and preventive measures
    2. Empowerment. Doctors are to empower patients to take charge of their own health and own medical records. Patients can monitor their chronic disease on their own and are taught on identifying red flags.
    3. Encouragement. Doctors are to encourage patient to be compliant to medication and lifestyle advice. Also, doctors are to set health goals to motivate patients to stay well and healthy.
  4. In ensuring the safe practice of medicine, RMP shall at all time follow the following policy strictly to our clients (corporate or public):
    1. RMP shall gather and assess the general condition of the patient as much and complete as possible before making a prescription.
    2. RMP shall prescribe safely and practice ethically at all time.
    3. RMP shall ensure that their prescription is valid and complete with patient’s details (Full name as per IC, IC number, Address, Medical History and Allergy History)
    4. RMP shall refer the patient to a physical doctor if the patient fails to satisfy 3C, detected red flags or develop any acute conditions.
    5. RMP shall not prescribe medications to treat acute or emergency conditions as the role of telemedicine is not to manage emergency conditions.
    6. If chronic medications are to be prescribed for a top-up, a maximum of 3 months duration can be prescribed.
    7. In the event that the patients have not seen a physical doctor for a duration of more than 3 months, RMP shall refer the patient to a physical doctor and NOT to continue prescribing.
    8. RMP shall be judicious on the use of antibiotics and MUST always comply with the Malaysian National Antibiotics Guideline.
    9. RMP shall be a steward on the usage of antibiotics to prevent the occurrence of the antibiotic-resistant organism.
    10. Prescription of antibiotics by RMP is only allowed under the following conditions:
      1. A picture of a valid physical prescription produced by the client, RMP shall re-prescribe the medication on the portal without making any changes.
      2. In the event where the patient needs a top-up to complete a course of antibiotics (eg: an additional 3 more days to complete a course of 7 days)
      3. Antibiotics needed for disease prophylaxis (eg: penicillin prophylaxis for Chronic Rheumatic Heart Disease).
      4. Antibiotics needed for eradication regimen (eg: H. Pylori eradication)
      5. The first line (narrow spectrum) beta-lactam antibiotics, first-generation cephalosporins or narrow-spectrum macrolides can be prescribed by RMP at their own discretion.
  5. To ensure safe prescription and dispensing, the management shall conduct regular audits and provide feedback to RMP to ensure adherence to available treatment guideline.

Dispensation Methods at DOC2US

To acquire medications at DOC2US, patients are required to consult a registered medical professional (RMP) on the DOC2US platform. RMP prescribes medications to the patients in accordance with the guidelines mentioned above.

Partner Pharmacy Approval

Our medications are supplied by partner community pharmacies, staffed with pharmacists that hold registered Type A Poison Licences where we are able to import, store and deal generally by wholesale or retail, as mandated by Laws of Malaysia Poison Act 1952 Regulation 26, 1952. In accordance with Laws of Malaysia Poison Act 1952 Regulation 24, 2006, medications will not be sold to any person under eighteen years of age, otherwise than for purposes of the medical treatment of such person.

“Together for a better healthcare tomorrow”

Updated 6 May 2020
Medical Director
DOC2US

Introducing DOC2US, Your Trusted Online Doctor. With its name synonymous to “talk to us”, DOC2US is a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere.

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