The Kenya ePrescription FHIR Implementation Guide (IG) defines how electronic prescriptions are exchanged among prescribers, dispensers, and healthcare systems throughout Kenya. It ensures prescriptions are created, transmitted, and dispensed digitally in a safe, secure, and interoperable manner that aligns with national policy and international best practices.
Purpose of an ePrescription FHIR IG
Standardization of Prescription Data
Profiles key FHIR resources such as MedicationRequest, MedicationDispense, Medication, Practitioner, Organization, and Patient for ePrescription workflows.
Requires electronic medical records (EMRs), computerised physician order entry (CPOE) systems, and pharmacy solutions to use consistent structures, code systems (ATC, RxNorm, Kenya EMR drug dictionary), and value sets.
Guarantees that prescriptions present a uniform look and meaning across facilities, pharmacies, and payers.
Interoperability
Enables secure electronic transmission of prescriptions between clinicians, pharmacies, hospitals, and national services.
Reduces fragmentation by making prescriptions accessible across disparate health information systems and EMRs.
Supports integration with the National Health Information Exchange (HIE) while linking to Patient Summaries and electronic claims (eClaims).
Automation of Prescribing & Dispensing
Supports end-to-end electronic prescription workflows, including creation, validation, dispensing, and refills.
Eliminates manual paperwork and mitigates errors associated with handwritten prescriptions.
Enhances patient safety through automated checks for drug interactions, allergies, and duplicate therapies.
Regulatory Alignment
Provides a national reference standard for ePrescriptions aligned with international best practices.
Enables the Ministry of Health, NHIF/SHIF, and regulatory bodies to monitor prescribing patterns, track controlled substances, and enforce compliance.
Facilitates pharmacovigilance activities and rational drug use initiatives.
Cost and Efficiency
Saves time for providers and pharmacists by reducing manual data entry and reconciliation.
Deters prescription fraud by curbing forged or duplicated paper scripts.
Delivers faster, safer access to prescribed medicines for patients.
Typical Workflows in an ePrescription FHIR IG
Prescription creation – Clinicians generate an electronic prescription using the MedicationRequest resource.
Prescription transmission – The prescription is digitally transmitted to the patient’s selected pharmacy.
Dispensing – The pharmacy records dispensing via the MedicationDispense resource and updates the patient’s record.
Refills and renewals – Prescribers or systems issue follow-up prescriptions or manage partial fills as required.
Integration with Patient Summary – Dispensed medications become part of the patient’s longitudinal summary.
Integration with eClaims – Dispensed items may be submitted to insurers through the FHIR Claim resource.
Summary
The Kenya ePrescription FHIR IG delivers the rules, profiles, workflows, and vocabulary bindings needed for safe, standardised, and interoperable exchange of electronic prescriptions. It connects prescribers, pharmacies, and health systems to ensure medications are prescribed and dispensed digitally with accuracy, safety, and efficiency, while seamlessly integrating with Patient Summaries and eClaims processes.
