Preferred medicines policy
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What does your doctor prescribe?
Your doctor writes the active ingredient you need on the prescription. Your pharmacist will give you the preferred medicine based on that active ingredient.The same medicine, different packaging
You may receive medicines from your pharmacy that have a different name or packaging to what you are used to. The medicine may also be a different colour or shape, but it still has the same properties as the medicine you are currently using.No compulsory excess
The costs of preferred medicines are not subject to the compulsory or voluntary excess. When dispensing a medicine, the pharmacy also charges a dispensing fee. These costs are subject to the compulsory excess.Dispensing fee (terhandstellingskosten in Dutch)
These charges are a fee for the services the pharmacy provides for you. These include updating your medication record, checking whether the medicine can be taken alongside any other medicines you are using, checking the prescription and dispensing the medicine.What if you cannot or do not wish to use the preferred medicine?
Are you entitled to a preferred medicine? If so, you are not entitled to any other medicine, unless there is a ‘medical necessity’ or a ‘logistical necessity’.Medical necessity
Medical necessity means that, from a medical point of view, it is irresponsible for you to use the preferred medicine. Your prescriber may only state ‘medical necessity’ on the prescription if they can substantiate that necessity. The pharmacy will assess whether there is a medical necessity. In case of doubt, the pharmacy will contact the prescriber to discuss and agree on the medical necessity.
Is there a medical necessity? If so, you will not be given the preferred medicine. In that case, you are entitled to an alternative medicine that you require on the basis of clinical criteria. The pharmacist and prescriber can discuss this.
Logistical necessity
A logistical necessity exists if the preferred medicine is unavailable in the Netherlands for an extended period and no other preferred medicine has been designated in the meantime. Is there a logistical necessity? In that case, your pharmacy will decide which alternative medicine you will receive, based on the active ingredient prescribed by the prescriber and the accompanying notes.