Szczepan Jakubowski

The ongoing development of information and communications technology (ICT) is forcing the EU legislation to implement a modern legal framework (eIDAS 2.0) for emerging new services. In the case of trust services, neither electronic seals nor maintenance service for the electronic signatures and seals used to sign medical records in electronic format have been implemented in the Polish healthcare system so far. The European Digital Identity Wallet (EDIW) is expected to become a new European electronic identification method with potential in a cross-border healthcare. The integrated electronic identification method is intended to facilitate and streamline the identification process in different European countries, which is particularly important when using online services such as e-banking or e-government (in healthcare). Healthcare entities should ensure that procedures and tools for identifying individuals comply with current regulations and quality standards.

This article is to present the concept of the electronic prescription model, taking into account legal regulations and technical solutions. Nowadays important changes have happened. In 2018, a law package regarding e-prescriptions was introduced in Poland that creates a new tool (electronic prescription) in the Polish market. Homogeneous tools enabling the security and integrity of e-documents and the approval of electronic signatures and seals are particularly important for the operation of the e-prescription. To enable the transmission of e-prescriptions it is required to join basic information and communications technology (ICT) system that supports e-prescribing to the main electronic identification system called Identification Electronic Node. In order to implement the e-prescription model, the lanuching of electronic medical records is indispensable. In most EU countries the e-prescription is implemented with the interchange standard of medical records called Health Level Seven (HL7). In terms of identification and authentication in e-prescribing, the eIDAS regulation plays a significant role. The electronic prescription has long been used in many countries, among which Sweden was one of the earliest (Sjunet system). Patients, physicians, pharmacies and the state will all benefit from the implementation. Ultimately, prescribers would have to use tools that will make it possible to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and credibility of transactions.