Prescription

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Electronic prescription or e-prescription

THEorder of 18 november 2020 aims to develop the practice of prescriptions established in a dematerialized way (“electronic” prescription or “e-prescription”).

This page will be updated when the order comes into effect.

In the meantime, the information contained on this page remains valid.

What is a prescription in the medical field? What is its usefulness? The prescription is used to obtain the dispensing of certain medications or to benefit from the performance of certain acts or medical examinations. It is written by a health professional and contains the information necessary for the smooth running of your treatment. We explain the rules to know.

The duration varies depending on the nature of the order:

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Dispensing of medicines

Treatment of at least 3 months not renewed for a chronic disease

Treatment is prescribed for at least 3 months in the case of a chronic disease.

If the renewable prescription has expired, the pharmacist can dispense these drugs within 3 months per dispensing of 1 month. The idea is to avoid any interruption of treatment.

For this:

  • The prescription must include the prescription of the drug allowing a total duration of treatment of at least 3 months
  • The first issue must take place within one month of the expiry of the order.

Medicines in this context are reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

Please note

HoweverHowever, this type of renewal cannot be carried out if the treatment has already exceeded a maximum possible duration. This may be the case, for example, for a prescription of morphine or drugs for insomnia or anxiety.

The pharmacist writes the name of each of the drugs on the prescription and informs the doctor who prescribed the drugs.

Prescription of birth control pills less than one year old

To avoid interruption of treatment between 2 visits, the nurse is allowed to renew a prescription of contraceptive pills less than one year old, for an additional period of up to 6 months.

Pharmacists can also dispense a contraceptive pill for an additional 6 months under the same conditions (the initial prescription must be less than a year old).

In total, the maximum duration of renewal of a contraceptive pill prescription by a nurse and/or pharmacist is 6 months non-renewable.

Please note

For be reimbursed for medication costs, double the prescription must reach your health insurance organization.

Other situation

In most cases, you have 3 months maximum, after the date of prescription of your doctor, to go to the pharmacy and thus obtain the 1re dispensing of medicines.

After this date, your prescription is no longer valid and your pharmacist will no longer be able to give you the medicines.

The duration of treatment prescribed on the prescription is, it, of 1 year maximum.

However, in certain special cases, the doctor has the obligation to limit his prescription in time (example: the maximum duration of prescription for patients with anxiolytics is in principle limited to 12 weeks).

The pharmacist delivers the medication for a period of one month each time. It is up to you to come back and renew them if necessary (in the case of a treatment of several months).

FYI  

One corresponding pharmacist may renew a prescription for the treatment of a long-term illness and, if necessary, adapt the dosage.

Medical device

For example, compression stockings, crutches, a lumbar belt, a knee brace, dressings, an IUD.

For example, compression stockings, crutches, a lumbar belt, a knee brace, dressings, an IUD.

The duration of validity of your prescription is 12 months (one year).

A medical device is reimbursed if it is registered on the list of refundable products and services (LPP).

If the prescription has expired, as part of a chronic treatment, the pharmacist can dispense the medical devices, up to a limit of 3 months per dispensing of 1 month. The idea is to avoid any interruption of treatment.

For this:

  • The prescription must include the prescription of medical devices allowing a total duration of treatment of at least 3 months
  • The first issue must take place within one month of the expiry of the order.

Medicines in this context are reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

The pharmacist writes the name of each product on the prescription and informs the prescribing physician.

Prescription for medical examination

When your doctor recommends performing medical examinations (biology, radiology, etc.), it is recommended to do it quickly after your appointment, even if there is no deadline for the examination.

Glasses or lenses

Your prescription has a different duration depending on your age for the renewal of your glasses or lenses.

Glasses

The rules differ depending on whether it is glasses to change or broken glasses.

Glasses to change (view)

The duration of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • From 43 years: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will perform a check of your sight beforehand
  • Between the ages of 16 and 42: your prescription is valid for 5 years. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will perform a check of your sight beforehand
  • Under 16 years: your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician will be able to renew your glasses by adapting them to your vision. He will perform a check of your vision beforehand.

The duration of validity of the prescription is 6 months for a 1re deliverance.

FYI  

The rules related to refunds glasses change depending on whether you are 18 or not.

Broken glasses

The duration of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • 16 years and older: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician will deliver you glasses equipped with corrective lenses identical to those broken
  • Under 16 years: the prescription only serves once. You should go back to your doctor to prescribe new glasses.

FYI  

The rules related to refunds glasses change depending on whether you are 18 or not.

Lenses

The duration of the prescription varies according to your age:

  • From 16 years: your prescription is valid for 3 years. The optician can renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist mentioned on the prescription). He will perform a check of your sight beforehand
  • Before the age of 16: your prescription is valid for 1 year. The optician can renew your lenses by adapting them to your vision (unless the ophthalmologist mentioned on the prescription). He will perform a check of your vision beforehand.

FYI  

Health Insurance supports contact lenses, on medical prescription, for certain indications.

Speech therapy

The medical prescription for a speech therapy assessment has no validity period.

The service My health space allows you to find in the same place (in your folder titled “ my health documents “) medical documents filed by you or by professionals, including prescriptions.

You can also request a duplicate of the prescription from the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

FYI  

For a treatment in renewalHowever, you can go to your pharmacy, and ask to use the prescription scanned by the pharmacist during your first visit.

The shelf life is in one-year-old general.

It is to:

  • 5 years for the delivery of glasses of a person between 16 and 42 years
  • 3 years for the delivery of glasses to a person aged 43 years or older.

There is no time limit for the delivery of hearing aids.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Health Info Rights

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