The ongoing supply of medicines is guaranteed; therefore, there is no need to redeem prescriptions for several months in advance, the President of the Hungarian Chamber of Pharmacists appealed to members of the public in a video message posted on the government’s Facebook account.

Zoltán Hankó thanked the people for having understood that the protocol of waiting in line not inside the pharmacy, but outside, keeping an appropriate distance from other patients, serves to protect not only the health of pharmacists, but also their own.

He said if someone wants to help redeem the medicines of elderly relatives or neighbours, they are required to have on them their own identity card and the social security numbers of the persons concerned.

Mr Hankó pointed out that if the particular medicine the doctor prescribed is not available in the pharmacy, patients should accept the replacement product with the same active ingredient and effect that is offered by the pharmacist. Doing so, they can avoid having to visit another pharmacy and standing in line again, he added.

In the video message, Zsolt Nyitrai, appointee of the Prime Minister for priority social affairs thanked the 12,000 pharmacists and pharmacy assistants working in more than 2,300 pharmacies around Hungary for their patience and responsible professional work.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)