Technical, Digital Literacy Barriers Hinder Success of E-Prescriptions

Electronic prescriptions (ePs) promised to modernize how patients access their medications, but new research reveals that technical instability and a widespread digital literacy gap are standing in the way of that potential being fully realized, according to a study in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.¹

“Although most patients still reported satisfactory access to pharmacies, experts anticipate a strong decline in accessibility, particularly in less populated areas, where access to pharmacies is already limited,” wrote the authors of the study. “At the same time, the number of annual prescriptions has increased in recent years, and medication shortages have forced patients to make multiple trips to pharmacies. To counter these challenges, pharmacies started offering (digital) services such as medication delivery, preordering, and click and collect.”

The transition to ePs was intended to be the cornerstone of a more efficient, patient-centered health care ecosystem, yet recent findings suggest that a lack of digital readiness is creating significant friction for community pharmacists.¹

A comprehensive mixed-methods study of the German pharmacy landscape revealed that while nearly half of pharmacists support the digital transition, a staggering 90.5% reported that technical errors frequently disrupt their daily dispensing and service workflows.

READ MORE: Billing Gaps Devalue the Patient Care Clinical Pharmacists Provide

These disruptions—ranging from system crashes to 3-hour delays in prescription availability—force patients to wait or return later, effectively worsening the in-pharmacy experience for more than half of the practitioners surveyed.¹

The Technological Challenges Behind ePs

This technical friction is not an isolated issue, as broader systematic reviews indicate that poorly designed e-prescribing systems significantly hinder the quality of care and user satisfaction. For the pharmacist, who has long been the quiet workhorse of the health care system, these barriers are compounded by an evolving operational crisis.^2,3

Industry experts predict a 25% increase in community pharmacy closures over the next 5 years, driven by declining financial viability and complex payment systems. In this precarious environment, the promise of technology to reduce pill-counting tasks and allow pharmacists to operate at the top of their licenses remains largely unfulfilled due to the high effort expectancy created by unreliable software.^1,3,4

Digital literacy gaps among patients present a second, equally daunting barrier. While digital prescriptions could theoretically bridge the gap among pharmacy deserts—rural or underserved areas where residents must travel more than 10 miles for pharmacy-based care—the reality is that many vulnerable patients lack the technical proficiency or necessary infrastructure to utilize these services effectively.^1,5

This digital divide risks exacerbating existing health disparities, as those in socially vulnerable areas are the most likely to lose access to local, in-person consultations when pharmacies close, according to the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.⁵

Furthermore, according to the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, the global pharmacy sector is undergoing a massive digital shift involving artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, and online platforms—a shift that was heavily accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.⁶

During lockdowns, telepharmacy and remote counseling became essential for providing care to underprivileged communities. However, these innovations also introduced new regulatory challenges and safety concerns regarding counterfeit medications.

Although online platforms have seen success in the burgeoning cosmeceutical market, traditional pharmacists express concern that the digital transfer of prescriptions primarily benefits large online pharmacies that have established digital infrastructures.^1,6

Looking Ahead Toward the Future of Pharmacy

For the profession to move forward, the focus must shift from merely implementing new tools to ensuring technical reliability and economic viability. Future trends suggest that while AI and robotics may eventually handle routine dispensing, the human pharmacist’s role must evolve into specialized medical, digital, and behavioral paths.^1,2,4

Achieving this requires systemic change, including fair reimbursement models that cover the true cost of dispensing and targeted training campaigns to improve digital literacy for both older pharmacists and their patients.^3,5

According to a separate study in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, the success of e-prescribing depends on a user-centric approach that prioritizes the environmental context of the community pharmacy and the unique needs of the diverse patient populations it serves.²

“The findings suggest that while ePs have the potential to improve access to medication, particularly through digital services, this potential was limited in Germany due to technical instability, low patient digital literacy, and pharmacists’ perceptions of limited usefulness,” concluded authors of the current study.¹ “Realizing the full potential of ePs requires technical reliability, economic viability of digital services, and improved digital literacy for pharmacists and patients.”

READ MORE: What Pharmacies Need to Know About FDA Shift to 12-Digit NDCs

Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.

REFERENCES

1. Graf A, Henningsen M, Zinner M. Transition to electronic prescriptions in pharmacies: workflows, services, and access to medication – a mixed methods approach. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2026;21:100706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsop.2026.100706

2. Hareem A, Lee J, Stupans I, et al. Benefits and barriers associated with e-prescribing in community pharmacy - a systematic review. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023 Nov 25;12:100375. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100375.

3. Nightengale B, Huseby T. Emerging trends in pharmacy operations: perspectives on the 2024 AMCP Foundation Survey. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2025 Feb;31(2-a Suppl):S25-S28. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2025.31.2-a.s25.

4. The future of pharmacy. Deloitte. 2020. Accessed April 21, 2026. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/Industries/life-sciences-health-care/articles/future-of-pharmacy-disruption-opportunities-challenges.html

5. Murphy M, Rodis J. The growing crisis of pharmacy deserts. Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. April 28, 2025. Accessed April 21, 2026. https://pharmacy.osu.edu/news/growing-crisis-pharmacy-deserts

6. Almeman A. The digital transformation in pharmacy: embracing online platforms and the cosmeceutical paradigm shift. J Health Popul Nutr. 2024 May 8;43(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s41043-024-00550-2.