Georgia tightens rules for psychotropic drug prescriptions in 2023

Georgia has introduced stricter rules for electronic prescriptions of psychotropic medications. The new regulations, announced by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, will take effect on April 1, 2023. They aim to address widespread irregularities in prescribing practices identified by the country's Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities Regulation Agency. The updated framework requires doctors to provide clear medical justification for each prescription. This reasoning must be recorded in the patient's medical history before issuing the medication. Daily doses cannot exceed the maximum limits set in the drug's official instructions.

Prescription quantities have also been reduced. Adults can now receive no more than a 14-day supply per prescription, while minors are limited to 30 days. A new prescription can only be issued when a patient has five days or less of medication left. Dosage adjustments must account for any existing medication the patient already holds. The rules include procedures for cases where prescribed drugs are lost, damaged, or destroyed. These changes follow disciplinary actions taken against several medical professionals for previous breaches in psychotropic drug prescriptions. The agency's findings highlighted multiple violations, prompting the tighter controls.

The new system enforces stricter oversight of psychotropic medication prescriptions. Doctors must now document their decisions and adhere to reduced supply limits. The measures officially begin on April 1, 2023, with the goal of improving compliance and patient safety.