Prescription Policy

Introduction

Getmeds is a fully-licensed pharmaceutical company registered with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), operating as a wholesaler, importer, distributor, and retail pharmacy in the Philippines. As a licensed retail pharmacy dispensing prescription medicines, Getmeds is committed to strict compliance with Philippine pharmaceutical laws and regulations set by the FDA, as well as international standards for prescription verification, dispensing, and patient safety.

This Prescription Policy sets out the procedures and standards that Getmeds follows in the handling, verification, and dispensing of prescription medicines, in compliance with the requirements of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Pharmacy Law (Republic Act No. 5921), and the Pharmacy Act of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10918). It defines the criteria that constitute a valid prescription, including the required information from a duly licensed prescriber, and outlines the respective responsibilities of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals when ordering prescription medicines through Getmeds, whether in-store or through online/remote channels. All prescriptions are subject to verification and final review by a licensed pharmacist prior to dispensing, in accordance with FDA regulations governing retail pharmacy practice. Where applicable, orders involving dangerous drugs or other regulated substances are additionally subject to the requirements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and relevant FDA circulars on controlled substance dispensing.

Regulatory Framework

Getmeds' prescription dispensing operations comply with the following Philippine laws and regulations:

• Republic Act No. 9711 — Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 (FDA Philippines)
• Republic Act No. 10918 — Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016
• Republic Act No. 6675 — Generics Act of 1988
• Republic Act No. 9502 — Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008
• Republic Act No. 9165 — Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (for controlled substances)
• PDEA regulations — governing License to Operate (LTO) categories S1 to S5, as applicable to Getmeds' licensed activities (importation, distribution, and retail of regulated substances)
• Philippine Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association (PHAP) Code of Practice — on ethical pharmaceutical operations
• WHO Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and Good Storage Practices (GSP) — for medicine handling, storage, and distribution

What is Prescription Medicine?

Prescription-only medicines (Rx) are medicines that, under Philippine law, may only be dispensed with a valid prescription issued by a duly licensed physician, dentist, or other authorized prescriber. These medicines are regulated because they require:

• Professional medical evaluation before use
• Proper dosage calculation based on patient factors
• Monitoring for side effects and drug interactions
• Additional compliance with dangerous drug and controlled substance regulations, where applicable (e.g., under RA 9165 and PDEA rules), on top of standard prescription requirements

Examples of prescription medicines dispensed by Getmeds include:

• Oncology and chemotherapy medicines
• Hematology and rare disease therapies
• Anesthesia medicines
• Anti-infectives and specialty antibiotics
• Biologics and injectable therapies
• Dangerous drugs and other PDEA-regulated controlled substances

Valid Prescription Requirements

For Getmeds to dispense a prescription medicine, your prescription must include all of the following:

Prescription Format and Acceptance

Getmeds accepts prescriptions in the following formats:

Original Prescriptions:

• Handwritten prescriptions on the healthcare professional's official letterhead
• Prescription pad forms with all required information

Digital Prescriptions:

• Scanned or photographed copies of original prescriptions
• Digitally-issued prescriptions with verified electronic signatures
• Prescriptions transmitted through recognized digital healthcare platforms

Prescriptions we do NOT accept:

• Informal handwritten notes that do not meet the requirements in Section 4 (i.e., not on an official prescription pad or form)
• Photocopies of photocopies (unclear or degraded quality)
• Cropped, edited, or partially visible prescriptions
• Expired prescriptions (see Section 6)
• Prescriptions with alterations, erasures, or corrections without healthcare professional re-verification
• Prescriptions from healthcare professionals without valid Philippine PRC licensing

Prescription Validity Period

Standard prescriptions are valid for:

Getmeds reserves the right to require an updated prescription for:

• Long-term maintenance medicines (annual re-prescription recommended)
• Medicines with changing clinical guidelines
• Any prescription that appears outdated relative to the medicine or treatment

Prescription Verification Process

All prescriptions submitted to Getmeds undergo mandatory verification by our licensed pharmacists before dispensing.

Verification includes:

• Confirming the prescription contains all required information
• Verifying the prescribing healthcare professional's PRC license
• Cross-checking S-2 license (for controlled substances)
• Evaluating dosage appropriateness for the patient
• Checking for potential drug interactions with concurrent medications (when disclosed)
• Confirming medicine availability and product registration
• Ensuring compliance with FDA Philippines and PDEA regulations

If clarification is needed, our pharmacists may:

• Contact the patient or caregiver for additional information
• Contact the prescribing healthcare professional for verification
• Request additional documentation (patient ID, PDEA authority, hospital documentation)
• Request an updated or corrected prescription

Right to Refuse Dispensing

Getmeds licensed pharmacists reserve the right to refuse or delay dispensing if:

• The prescription is incomplete, illegible, or missing required information
• The prescription has expired
• The prescribing healthcare professional's license cannot be verified
• The prescription appears altered, forged, or fraudulent
• The dosage or medicine combination raises safety concerns
• The medicine is not available or not registered in the Philippines
• The order does not comply with PDEA controlled substance regulations
• The patient's identification cannot be verified (for controlled substances)
• Any regulatory or safety concern warrants refusal

Refusal to dispense is a professional and legal responsibility intended to protect patient safety and comply with Philippine pharmaceutical laws.

Controlled Substances (PDEA-Regulated Medicines)

For controlled substances regulated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), additional requirements apply:

Getmeds reports controlled substance dispensing to PDEA as required by law, maintaining strict records for regulatory audit.

For questions about controlled substance prescriptions, contact our licensed pharmacists at +63 919 076 9105.

Prescription Ordering by Third Parties

If you are ordering a prescription medicine on behalf of a patient (as a family member, caregiver, guardian, or authorized representative), the following requirements apply:

• The patient's valid prescription is required
• Your identification and relationship to the patient may be verified
• For dangerous drugs, an authorization letter from the patient (or legal guardian) and valid government-issued ID for both the patient and the representative are mandatory before dispensing, consistent with the requirements in Sections 8 and 9
• Delivery may be arranged to either your address or the patient's address

Authorized ordering scenarios include:

• Family members ordering for elderly or minor patients
• Caregivers ordering for homebound or hospitalized patients
• Guardians ordering for dependents
• Healthcare professionals ordering on behalf of their patients

Refills and Repeat Prescriptions

For maintenance medicines or long-term therapies:

• Refills within the prescription's validity period may be dispensed based on the original prescription
• Refill quantities are subject to the healthcare professional's instructions and applicable regulations
• Controlled substances typically require a new prescription for each dispensing (no automatic refills)
• Expired prescriptions require a new or updated prescription from the healthcare professional

Our pharmacists may recommend that patients on long-term therapy periodically consult with their healthcare providers to reassess treatment.

Prescription Verification Failures

If a prescription cannot be verified or dispensed, Getmeds will:

• Contact the patient or caregiver to explain the issue
• Request corrections or updates as needed
• Provide guidance on how to obtain a valid prescription
• Coordinate with the prescribing healthcare professional (with patient consent) when appropriate

Reporting of Fraudulent Prescriptions

Submission of fraudulent, forged, or altered prescriptions is a serious offense under Philippine law, including under the Revised Penal Code (falsification of documents) and, where applicable, Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). Getmeds will:

• Refuse to dispense any suspicious prescription
• Report to authorities, including the FDA Philippines, PDEA, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and/or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as warranted
• Cooperate with law enforcement in any resulting investigation
• Suspend or terminate the user's access to Getmeds services

Prescriptions for Institutional Partners

For hospital pharmacies, institutional accounts, and healthcare partners, prescription handling follows:

• Standing supply agreements and hospital formulary protocols
• Institutional purchase orders and account management arrangements, which may fall under Getmeds' wholesale/distribution License to Operate (LTO) rather than its retail pharmacy LTO, depending on the nature of the supply arrangement
• Direct coordination with hospital pharmacy committees
• Compliance with hospital dispensing authorities and PDEA institutional licenses

Contact your Getmeds account manager for institutional prescription arrangements.

Patient Assistance Program Prescriptions

For medicines dispensed under Patient Assistance Programs (PAP, NPAP, CSP, DSWD, PCSO, OVP, OP), prescription requirements include:

• Valid prescription from a licensed healthcare professional
• Additional program-specific documentation (medical abstract, treatment protocol, clinical summary)
• Government agency-approved guarantee letters (where applicable)
• Patient eligibility documentation

Refer to our Patient Assistance Program page for complete requirements.

Emergency and Urgent Prescriptions

In cases of medical emergency or urgent treatment needs, Getmeds pharmacists will make reasonable efforts to expedite prescription verification and dispensing while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Emergency prescription protocols:

• Direct contact with the prescribing healthcare professional for immediate verification
• Coordination with hospital pharmacies for critical care supply
• Urgent-response delivery (where operationally feasible)
• Priority processing for oncology, hematology, and critical care medicines

Patient Safety Commitment

Getmeds' prescription policies are grounded in our commitment to patient safety and regulatory compliance. As part of this commitment:

• Our licensed pharmacists are trained on current pharmaceutical practices and regulations
• We participate in ongoing pharmacovigilance and adverse event reporting
• We maintain strict cold-chain and specialty handling for temperature-sensitive medicines
• We support patients with treatment adherence guidance and refill coordination

Questions About This Policy

For questions about the Getmeds Prescription Policy, prescription requirements, or dispensing procedures, contact our licensed pharmacists:

Changes to This Policy

Getmeds reserves the right to modify this Prescription Policy at any time to reflect changes in laws, regulations, or best practices. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

By continuing to use Getmeds services, you agree to comply with the current version of this Prescription Policy.