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06-03-2025

Distance selling of prescription medicines: not everyone knows the benefits and how to benefit

Iliustracija

Until recently, prescription medicines in Lithuania could only be bought by visiting a pharmacy, but now people have another option – to buy them remotely. The alternative, which started in summer of 2022, is rapidly gaining popularity as it allows patients to avoid queues, compare prices more easily and get necessary prescription medicines without leaving home. Kristina Povilaitienė, Adviser to the Pharmaceutical Policy Department of Pharmaceutical Activities Division of the Ministry of Health (MOH), notes that this way of purchasing medicines is becoming an important part of the healthcare system, improving accessibility of medicines to patients.

How to purchase prescription medicines remotely?

Only patients who have a valid electronic prescription for a medicine can buy medicines remotely. Patients can check whether they have one by logging into E. Sveikata system via Electronic Government Gateway.

“After selecting medicines, that a patient wants to buy, on E. sveikata, he/she is redirected to the website of the pharmacy chosen, where a patient has to complete the order. The pharmacy only confirms the order when the patient receives a pharmaceutical service, such as a call from a pharmacist to remotely advise the patient on the chosen medicine,” K. Povilaitienė says.

Why buy medicines remotely?

  • Time-saving – this avoids trips to the pharmacy, as the order can be placed directly from your home or workplace and the medicines are delivered to the address specified.
  • Privacy is particularly important in smaller towns, where many people know each other, so purchasing certain medicines in a physical pharmacy can be inconvenient. Buying medicines remotely can give a person better assurance of their privacy.
  • Easier to compare prices – E. sveikata portal makes it quick and easy for a patient to check prices from different pharmacies and choose the best option.

One of the main advantages of distance selling of prescription medicines is to order medicines not only for oneself, but also for one’s family. “This is particularly convenient for the elderly and those who live in remote areas where the choice of pharmacies is limited, as well as for people with reduced mobility,” the representative of the Ministry says. – For example, I can order medicines for my grandmother from any city in Lithuania or even abroad, and she will receive them directly at home. Alternatively, I can order my prescriptions from my summer homestead and they will be delivered to my desired location. It is important to note that a person must have a power of attorney at E. sveikata, but an authorized person does not have to be a patient’s relative. The most important thing for you is to trust the person and for him/her to have access to E.sveikata system and confirm the authorisation.”

Where and when will I get my medicines?

If you order medicines remotely, you can pick up your order at a pharmacy or specify your preferred delivery location.

“Medicines or reimbursed medical aids ordered in urban areas must be delivered to the patient within 2 working days, and in towns and villages within 4 working days of the conclusion of the distance sales contract. If the delivery deadline falls on a rest day or a public holiday, the next working day is the final delivery day, so it is very important to plan the order in time,” K. Povilaitienė says.

Can all medicines be purchased remotely? 

According to the representative of MOH, in Lithuania, both over-the-counter and prescription medicines can be purchased remotely if they are prescribed electronically. However, there are some exceptions.

“Narcotic and psychotropic preparations, as well as nominal medicines, except reimbursed ones, and extemporaneous medicines, which are produced in pharmacies according to an individual patient’s prescription, are not available for purchase remotely. In addition, some medicines require special storage conditions, such as certain temperatures, which may prevent pharmacies from delivering them to one’s home,” K. Povilaitienė says.

Although distance selling is getting more popular, there are still challenges – not all pharmacies offer a wide enough range of medicines, so patients are not always able to get all the medicines they need from one pharmacy. If the medicine needed is not available or it is in insufficient quantity, going to a pharmacy is suggested.

Is it safe to purchase medicines on the internet?

All remote prescription medicines are selected via E. sveikata system, where electronic prescriptions are linked to patient’s data, making it impossible to buy these medicines illegally or without a prescription.

“If a person sees offers to buy medicines on websites other than pharmacies’ websites or on social networks, there is a good chance that this is illegal. It is also possible that products of uncertain origin, rather than medicines, may be sold in this way. It is very important to know that all pharmacies that officially offer to sell medicines remotely must have a special badge of approval, which is common across the EU,” K. Povilaitienė says.

Medicines should be bought from pharmacies or their websites, which are marked with a special logo. However, it is important for the logo to be active – clicking on it should bring up a list of pharmacies selling medicines remotely.

In the case of Lithuania, this information can be found on the website of the State Medicines Control Agency.

Here you will find a list of pharmacies that offer remote purchasing. If a pharmacy is not on this list, please do not use that website to purchase medicines.

According to the representative of the MOH, this logo is mandatory for all legal pharmacies selling medicines remotely in all EU countries.

“With so many different websites on the internet, people can accidentally end up on dubious platforms that don’t have reliable information. It is therefore necessary to be vigilant and critical of the information you read. Similarly, medicines should not be bought in illegal places such as markets, from residents or elsewhere.

Buying medicines from illegal places puts you at risk of buying and consuming products of unclear origin that are presented as medicines, or of buying counterfeit medicines – falsified medicines. The use of such products is unsafe because their composition, safety, efficacy, possible adverse reactions, shelf life or transport conditions are unknown. They may contain harmful impurities or no active substance at all. In addition, the labelling and package leaflet of such products can be misleading,” warns K. Povilaitienė.

This article is a part of the pharmacy literacy campaign “Medicines don’t speak”, run by the NHIF. 

The NHIF invites you:

Last updated: 31-03-2025

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