DocMorris demands fully digital non-discriminatory access to e-prescriptions – Biotech Investments

Frauenfeld, 6 July 2023

Press release

DocMorris demands fully digital non-discriminatory access to e-prescriptions

• DocMorris files complaint against the prescription medicines (Rx) bonus ban with the European Commission
• Still no mandatory fully digital redemption channel where online pharmacies can receive e-prescriptions without discrimination
• EU Commission had dropped its infringement proceedings against Germany due to the impending introduction of e-prescriptions that was to be legally binding and non-discriminatory from January 2022
• Since 1 July, e-prescriptions can be redeemed with the physical health insurance card (eGK) – that is limited to brick-and-mortar pharmacies
• Federal Ministry of Health must promptly anable user-friendly fully digital procedures for e-prescription redemption and ensure mandatory implementation

Since 1 July 2023, it has been possible for patients nationwide to redeem their prescription electronically via their eGK. However, this option can only be used in brick-and-mortar pharmacies. A fully digital redemption of e-scripts at an online pharmacy is currently only possible via the e-prescription app of the gematik, provided the insured person has the required PIN for the eGK, which must be ready for contactless exchange of data (NFC). The download figures for the app suggest that this option will only be used by very few.[1]

“Fully digital, non-discriminatory redemption channels for e-prescriptions are a prerequisite for market access and fair competition for EU-foreign online pharmacies and their patients,” explains Walter Hess, CEO of DocMorris, the importance of the e-prescription for online pharmacies. “We have invested in our specialised pharmaceutical staff and know-how as well as our technology and infrastructure to be ready for e-prescriptions based on the legal requirements. Now we are structurally disadvantaged,” Hess continued. As a result, DocMorris N.V., together with Shop-Apotheke B.V., has now filed a complaint with the European Commission against the bonus ban for prescription medicines (Rx) in connection with the delayed and discriminatory e-prescription introduction. Both issues are closely linked, as the EU Commission had justified the closure of the infringement proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany on the Rx bonus ban with the mandatory e-prescription introduction as of January 2022. Although the EU Commission recognised that the Rx bonus ban reintroduced with the “law to strengthen on-site pharmacies” (German: Gesetz zur Stärkung der Vor-Ort-Apotheken) violates EU law, it closed the proceedings on the premise of non-discriminatory access to the e-prescription infrastructure for foreign online pharmacies.

Until the nationwide mandatory use of the e-prescription from 1 January 2024, DocMorris demands the implementation of a low-threshold user-friendly redemption channel that is also open to online pharmacies. A channel via the eGK without PIN, analogous to the procedure for brick-and-mortar pharmacies, could offer patients of European online pharmacies a fully digital and secure way to redeem e-prescriptions. When digital identities will be available for authentication from 1 January 2024, the e-prescription must also be redeemable via this low-threshold channel for proof of identity or via a paperless “scanning procedure” using the card readers in doctors’ practices.

“It is now necessary to create the technical as well as legal basis for fully digital redemption channels and to restore the freedom of choice of pharmacies in the interest of patients. We hope that the Federal Ministry of Health will create equal opportunities for all market participants,” said Walter Hess.

Investors and analyst contact
Dr. Daniel Grigat, Group Head of Investor Relations & Sustainability
Email: ir@zurrose.com, phone: +41 58 810 11 49

Media contact
Torben Bonnke, Director Communication Segment Germany
Email: media@zurrose.com, phone: +49 171 864 888 1

Agenda

DocMorris

The Swiss-based DocMorris AG is a leading company in the fields of online pharmacy, marketplace and professional healthcare with strong brands in Germany and other European countries. As Germany’s largest online pharmacy, it operates DocMorris, the best-known health platform. Deliveries are mainly from the highly automated logistics centre in Heerlen, the Netherlands, with a capacity of over 27 million parcels per year. In Spain and France, the company operates the leading marketplace for health and personal care products in Southern Europe. With its business model, DocMorris offers its patients, customers and partners a broad range of products and services. In doing so, DocMorris is pursuing its vision of creating a digital health ecosystem for everyone to manage their health in one click. The company was renamed from Zur Rose Group AG to DocMorris AG in May 2023 after the Swiss business was sold to Migros/Medbase. Excluding the Swiss business, about 2,200 employees in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Switzerland generated an external revenue of CHF 1,159 million serving around 10 million active customers in 2022. The shares of DocMorris AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283, ticker DOCM). For further information, please visit corporate.docmorris.com.

^[1] Cf. TI dashboard as of 30.06.2023: 510,506 downloads