From today (6th), at-home care workers who have been confirmed with COVID-19 will be able to directly visit pharmacies and receive medicines.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Major Headquarters) announced that it had received a report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the 'Measures to promote face-to-face prescription and dispensing of medicines after treatment at home' from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and discussed related contents.
In the past, it has been a principle for confirmed patients to receive non-face-to-face treatment over the phone while receiving home treatment at home, and then receive and deliver prescribed medicines by a representative such as family or acquaintances. I decided to allow it to be received.
In this regard, the Central Headquarters explained, "The demand for face-to-face delivery of medicines has increased as the professional rapid antigen test positive is recognized as a confirmed patient and face-to-face treatment for home-based care has been expanded."
Accordingly, after receiving non-face-to-face or face-to-face treatment, patients with COVID-19 can submit a prescription issued by a medical institution to the pharmacy.
If the patient wishes, the medical institution can deliver the prescription to the pharmacy by fax or e-mail directly, after which the patient or his/her representative must submit the original prescription to the pharmacy.
Pharmacies dispense medicines and deliver them to confirmed patients, and provide written and oral medication instructions.
The government has also prepared an additional compensation plan for receiving face-to-face medicines from confirmed patients by paying a 'face-to-face administration fee' to pharmacies.