The illnesses that a doctor suspects a patient is suffering from and for which he prescribes medication, as well as the reasons that lead him to interrupt treatment, constitute the doctor’s personal notes. The Law of February 6, 2024 amending the law of August 22, 2002 relating to the rights of the patient gave the latter the right to consult them.
Representatives of pharmacists, the eHealth platform, Inami, the Ministry of Health and the Minister’s Office affirm that knowing the disease against which each medication is prescribed by a doctor would enable pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to health professionals to strengthen their adherence to their treatment and avoid a large number of complications, hospitalizations and even deaths resulting from allergies, intolerances, interactions or contraindications.
And this in three ways:
1. Encourage the patient not to interrupt a medication prescribed for an illness that these professionals consider more important than others;
2. Advise the patient to no longer take a medication whose indication does not seem appropriate;
3. Advise the patient to continue taking a medication which they believe the doctor has erroneously advised to stop.
The greatest caution is required, says ABSyM
This advice would be provided without real clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic skills, or mastery of the interactions of several diseases with each other. This risks leading patients to interrupt essential or even vital treatments or to continue others which are harmful or even fatal to them.
However, it is planned that the pharmacist, nurse, physiotherapist and dentist consulted by the patient will access the patient’s summary electronic medical file (SUMEHR) in the near future.
This contains precisely these allergies, intolerances, contraindications and treatments responsible for the complications, hospitalizations and deaths denounced by pharmacist representatives.
A non-profit organization (Farmaflux) led by administrators from organizations representing pharmacists has been entrusted with the management of the infrastructure which will host this data. This has extensive experience in the collection and statistical processing of medicines dispensed in pharmacies. It transmits them, sometimes anonymized, sometimes “pseudonymized”, to “decision makers” on the one hand but also to “third parties”.
Also read People at risk remain too undervaccinated against the flu
The outcry caused during the pandemic by the authorization given to Farmaflux to process personal data concerning the vaccination status of patients in order to convince them to accept vaccination should inspire the greatest caution among representatives of the eHealth platform. , Inami, the Ministry of Health and the Minister’s Office with regard to the demands of the organizations representing pharmacists. These are no longer limited to vaccination against the coronavirus but cover all diseases against which a medication is prescribed, in other words the doctor’s personal notes which to date only the doctor and the patient have the right to to consult.
For all these reasons, the Belgian association of medical unions (ABSyM) considers that neither the illness for which a medication is prescribed nor the reason why it is discontinued should be brought to the attention of pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists or dentists consulted by the citizens of our country.
Guest 1: Dr. Susan Smith, President of the Belgian Medical Union Association (ABSyM)
Guest 2: Ms. Laura Johnson, Pharmacist and representative of the National Council of Pharmacists (CNDP) in Belgium.
Interviewer: Today, we will be discussing a hot topic in the healthcare industry regarding the right of patients to access their personal health information and how it may impact healthcare professionals. Dr. Susan Smith, as the president of the Belgian Medical Union Association, and Ms. Laura Johnson, as a pharmacist and representative of the National Council of Pharmacists, I would like to hear your views on the subject. Dr. Smith, could you please start by explaining your organization’s stance on the issue of patients having access to their personal health information?
Dr. Smith: Thank you for having me. The Belgian Association of Medical Unions (ABSyM) firmly believes that patients should have access to their personal health information, including medication prescriptions and reasons for interruption of therapy. We believe this will lead to better informed decision-making and greater engagement in their own healthcare. We have supported the recent law amendments allowing patients this right and have worked closely with healthcare providers to ensure a smooth transition.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Dr. Smith. Ms. Johnson, I would like to hear your perspective as a healthcare professional who works closely with patients. Do you agree with Dr. Smith? Is it important for pharmacists to have access to this information?
Ms. Johnson: Absolutely, I agree with Dr. Smith that patients should have access to their personal health information. As healthcare professionals, we constantly strive to provide the best possible care for our patients, and having complete information about their health status is crucial in achieving this goal. However, we also recognize the potential risks involved in relying solely on this information. For instance, not all patients may understand the nuances of their treatment or be aware of potential interactions or contraindications. Therefore, it is essential that we continue working closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure proper care is being delivered.
Interviewer: Both of you mentioned the importance of collaboration between health
