General practitioners
How does the electronic prescription (E-Prescription) work in Switzerland? Our complete guide
Published on 09/05/2025
Digitisation is gaining ground in Switzerland: paper prescriptions are gradually being replaced by the electronic prescription (E‑Prescription). Within a few years, this new standard is expected to become widespread across all medical practices and pharmacies in the country. As a healthcare professional, this directly concerns you: understanding the E‑Prescription will help you adopt it in the future, save time, and offer your patients a smoother experience.
What is the E‑Prescription in Switzerland?
The Swiss E‑Prescription is simply the fully digital version of a medical prescription. A joint initiative of the FMH (Swiss Medical Association) and pharmaSuisse, it is managed by the Health Info Net SA (HIN) platform. The goal? Make electronic prescriptions the national standard by 2029, while safeguarding the interests of healthcare providers.
Unlike a basic PDF sent via email, the E‑Prescription includes:
- A qualified electronic signature, applied using the physician’s HIN ID;
- An encrypted QR code that contains all prescription data;
- A verification register allowing pharmacies to check, at every dispensing, that there’s been no duplication or forgery;
- 100% digital format, streamlining the patient journey.
How does the electronic prescription work?
In practice, creating and delivering an E‑Prescription follows three main steps.
Step 1 – Writing the prescription
First, you write the prescription as usual. When you’re ready to validate, your HIN identity is requested: the qualified electronic signature is automatically added, ensuring the document’s authenticity.
Step 2 – Sending it to the patient
Second, the prescription is sent to the patient. There are several delivery options: secure HIN Mail, printed paper, or storing it in a health app. No matter the method, the QR code is what really counts – it contains all the necessary data.
Step 3 – Scanning the QR code at the pharmacy
Finally, the patient presents the QR code at their chosen pharmacy. The pharmacy staff scan the code, and the system verifies the signature. If the prescription hasn’t yet been filled, the patient can receive their medication.
Remember: an E‑Prescription can be partially filled. Its status (“partially filled”, “fully filled”) is updated in real time and visible across all pharmacies, preventing duplicate dispensing.
Is the E‑Prescription secure?
Security isn’t just a marketing buzzword – it’s a cornerstone of the E‑Prescription:
- Qualified electronic signature: Only a signature meeting strict security standards under the LDEP, such as encryption, is accepted.
- End-to-end encryption: communications via HIN Mail or API are fully protected;
- No central medical database: only anonymised IDs are recorded for verification;
- Patient control: it’s always the patient who decides which pharmacy will scan their QR code.
When will the E‑Prescription be used in Switzerland?
Since January 2024, pharmacies in Switzerland have had the technical capability to scan and verify E‑Prescriptions. The rollout will happen in phases:
- 2025: Integration of medical and paramedical practices
- 2026–2027: Expansion to hospitals and clinics
- 2029: National standard: electronic prescriptions become the default for all healthcare providers
Benefits for your medical practice
Adopting the E‑Prescription simplifies your workflow and improves the patient’s care experience. Imagine: you finish your consultation, click “Prescribe” — your patient instantly receives the QR code on their smartphone and heads straight to the pharmacy downstairs. No printing, no handwritten signatures, no risk of illegible prescriptions.
Tangible benefits include:
- Less admin time: one-click signature and instant sending
- Simplified tracking: you can see if the prescription has been filled, partially or completely
Benefits for pharmacists
For pharmacies, electronic prescriptions reduce errors and streamline operations. Scanning the QR code allows for:
- Automatic reading of the prescription – no need to decipher handwriting;
- Instant verification of the signature and fill status.
The result? Less manual entry, fewer errors, and higher customer satisfaction.
Benefits for patients
From the patient’s point of view, the E‑Prescription means more freedom and security. No paper to carry around or risk losing. The QR code can be saved directly on their phone and used in any pharmacy.
And if the patient has a video consultation? No problem – they can still receive their prescription without needing a physical hand-off.
Get ready for the E‑Prescription today!
For your practice, the E‑Prescription is a chance to streamline processes, reduce errors, and modernise the patient experience. By adopting it now, you’ll be one step ahead of the national rollout scheduled for 2029. In the meantime, check out our guide to learn how to use the E‑Prescription in Switzerland.
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