In USA, in pharmacy dispensation data - there is a concept of refills. A patient can get a prescription for a drug (e.g., lipid lowering drug) and make 3 trips to the pharmacy. First pick up of drug’s supply for January and then do refill 1 in February and refill 2 in March. (and than a new prescription with new 2 refills)
I wonder if in France, UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, XYZ county, there is even such a thing as refills? You simply get all 3 months in a single dispensation. Can you please describe your Rx data and if the concept/idea of refills is “in your Rx dispensation data” ? (tagging @Rijnbeek@MaximMoinat@Alexdavv@rwpark )
There is no system like a prescription refill in Korea. For ETC drugs, we need to go back to the hospital to get the prescription even that is the same before.
In China, no refills were given. We usually prescribe one-month medication and if pt needs again, he or she needs another Rx.
I once worked in a US sponsored hospital so I kinda of see more differences: US pts pick up meds in community pharmacies rather than hospitals, yet Chinese pts picked up meds at hospital pharmacy, rather than community ones: since you’re already checking in the hospital, then it makes sense that you get a Rx. (except that hospitals are over burdened).
Giving refills is the pattern that Chinese Healthcare System might want to copy paste, but for now, not yet.
