The secure prescription system for tramadol and codeine will not start on December 1 as was initially announced.
- The secure order for tramadol and codeine prescriptions is postponed until March 1, 2025.
- A secure prescription has several specific features that make it tamper-proof.
- For example, the paper is thicker and has a watermark.
The implementation of restrictions for tramadol and codeine prescriptions, announced for December 1, will have to wait an additional 3 months, according to The Pharmacist’s Daily. The ANSM announced the postponement of the measure to pharmacy unions until the first quarter of 2025.
Tramadol and codeine: the secure prescription postponed to October 1
“The entry into force of the secure prescription system for tramadol and codeine (as well as) the limitation of the validity period of codeine prescriptions to three months (are postponed) to March 1, 2025 instead of December 1, 2024 “warned the ANSM in an email addressed to the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF) and the Union of Community Pharmacists Unions (USPO).
This announcement comes as the FSPF had requested the postponement of the implementation of this system aimed at combating the risks of misuse, dependence and fraud with these opioids. The organization indicated that many pharmacists do not yet have the necessary equipment to read the QR codes affixed to the digital versions of secure prescriptions. This would prevent these professionals from delivering the boxes of tramadol or codeine prescribed to patients.
Protected prescription: several elements to fight against fraud
Secure prescriptions, also called “protected prescriptions”, differ from traditional prescriptions in several respects. They must meet the following criteria:
- thicker paper (minimum weight set at 77 g/m2);
- a watermark representing a caduceus;
- mandatory information pre-printed in blue to identify the prescribing healthcare professional;
- an absence of optical brightener on the paper;
- systems to combat fraud, counterfeiting, falsification and theft.
“The prescriber must have written in full the dosage, dosage and duration of treatment. The patient’s first and last name must also appear as well as anti-fraud barcodes”, ANSM clarified during the announcement last September.
These specific medical documents are already used for the prescription of narcotics or even medications containing pregabalin.
