Electronic prescription in the public system (activate and use it)

What you need to have to hand

1. Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI) from your CCAA. Without this, forget it.
2. DNI/NIE valid in case they ask in the consultation or at the pharmacy.
3. Cl@ve permanente or certificado digital to access your health portal and see your medication plan.
4. Mobile and email updated in your clinical record (you get expiry and appointment alerts).
5. Hoja de tratamiento activo if you’re already on treatment and need a renewal or will be travelling.

Documentation

• TSI (SIP in Comunitat Valenciana, TSI in Madrid, CatSalut in Cataluña, etc.).
• DNI/NIE. They can also identify you with this at the pharmacy.
• Cl@ve/certificado for the regional health folder (Mi Carpeta de Salud, ClicSalud+, La Meva Salut...).
• Empadronamiento/documento de derecho only if you haven’t been registered yet and need the health card.
• Previous medication plan if you request a renewal so the doctor isn’t guessing.

Step by step

1. Book an appointment with your GP via your CCAA portal or app. Search for “renewal of treatment/prescriptions”. Examples: Madrid (https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/salud/cita-atencion-primaria), Cataluña (https://lamevasalut.gencat.cat), Andalucía (https://www.sspa.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/usuarios/citas).
2. Identify with Cl@ve or certificate and confirm date and type (face-to-face or phone). If you don’t have online access, they’ll enable it at the centre with your TSI and DNI.
3. Consultation with the doctor: review treatments, allergies and regimen. Ask them to print the Hoja de tratamiento activo (it’s your backup if the system fails or you travel to another CCAA).
4. Pharmacy: bring your TSI (and DNI if requested). The system shows what you can pick up and when. If something is blocked, it’s usually expiry or missing visado.
5. Check your plan online: log into your folder with Cl@ve and download the plan of medication (next dispensations, dates, doses). Saves a wasted trip.
6. Travelling between CCAA: the prescription is interoperable, but some drugs (psychotropics/narcotics or those needing visado) can fail. Carry your Hoja de tratamiento and be patient.
7. Renewals: when the expiry approaches or you run out of dispensations, book another appointment or use the “renewal of treatment” option if your CCAA offers it without a face-to-face visit.

Time-saving tips

• Always ask for a printed Hoja de tratamiento activo. It’s your plan B if the system is down or you change CCAA.
• Activate Cl@ve permanente and your health folder: you control expiries and avoid unnecessary appointments.
• If you move between CCAA, don’t wait until the last day to pick up: some syncs take 24–48 h.
• For medicines requiring a visado, start the procedure early: without the visado the pharmacy can’t dispense even if the doctor prescribed it.
• If there are no appointments, check for a phone consultation or the online “renewal of treatment” option (availability varies by CCAA).

Common mistakes that can ruin this for you

1. Assuming everything works everywhere: interoperability has exceptions (psychotropics, visados).
2. Forgetting the expiry: if you miss the date or use up dispensations, you’ll leave empty-handed.
3. Not having a TSI: without the card there’s no public electronic prescription. Get registered in your CCAA first.
4. Mixing up private and public prescriptions: private ones don’t show with your TSI in the SNS pharmacy system.
5. Not updating contact details: you’ll miss alerts and renewals.
6. Changing CCAA and expecting instant pickup: leave a margin, syncing isn’t always immediate.