Step 2

1. Receiving the Prescription
   • Format Check:
     • The prescription may be received digitally (scanned or photographed) via app, website, or messaging service, or in physical form during home delivery.
     • Pharmacists check the clarity and legibility of the uploaded or provided document to ensure all necessary details are visible.
   • Mandatory Information Verification:
     • The prescription must contain:
       • Patient’s full name and age.
       • Doctor’s name, qualification, and registration number.
       • The prescribed medicine’s name, dosage, and duration of use.
       • The doctor’s signature and date of issuance.

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2. Cross-Checking for Legality and Authenticity
   • Valid Prescription Source:
     • Verify that the prescription is issued by a licensed medical practitioner.
     • For unfamiliar prescriptions, a check against the doctor’s registration number is conducted via medical boards or online directories.
   • Expiry Check:
     • Ensure that the prescription is still valid (typically, prescriptions are valid for 30 days unless otherwise specified by the doctor).
   • Duplicate or Fraud Detection:
     • Scan for signs of tampering, duplication, or forgery in the prescription document.
     • In case of suspicion, contact the prescribing doctor to confirm authenticity.

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3. Medical Review of Prescribed Medicines
   • Appropriate Dosage and Use:
     • The pharmacist checks the prescribed medicine’s dosage, frequency, and duration for correctness based on the patient’s details (age, weight, etc.).
     • Any potentially harmful interactions or contraindications (e.g., due to known allergies or overlapping prescriptions) are flagged.
   • Alternative Options:
     • If the prescribed medicine is unavailable, the pharmacist may recommend a medically-approved generic alternative after informing the customer.

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4. Customer Communication
   • Clarifications:
     • If any information is missing or unclear, the customer is contacted to provide further details or an updated prescription.
     • Pharmacists may also explain why certain medicines cannot be dispensed without a clearer or updated prescription.
   • Advisory:
     • Customers are advised about the safe use of the prescribed medicines, potential side effects, and storage requirements.

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5. Approval and Documentation
   • Once validated, the prescription is marked as approved for dispensing.
   • A digital or physical copy is retained as per legal requirements for audit purposes.
   • The approved prescription is then forwarded for the next step in the order processing pipeline.