Picking up prescription medicines for someone else
Giving a written letter of authorisation
You may give another person the right to pick up your prescription medicine for you. This is called giving a “letter of authorisation” (a form of power of attorney).
The person who is giving the letter of authorisation is the grantee of the letter of authorisation, and the person who is receiving the authority under the letter of authorisation is referred to as an agent (authorised party pursuant to a letter of authorisation).
On 1 June 2020, a new procedure will be introduced that will affect the letter of authorisation needed to be able to pick up someone else’s prescription medicine at pharmacies. The purpose with the change being implemented is to increase patient safety and strengthen the protection in the processing of personal data.
This is how this affects you
As of 1 June 2020:
- a letter of authorisation may be valid for a maximum of four years
- you will need to give your consent to the registration of your personal data, irrespective of whether you are the person giving theauthorisation or the agent receiving the authorisation.
Period of validity
The period of validity of the letter of authorisation is calculated from the time you as an agent have indicated your consent. If you have already indicated consent when the letter of authorisation procedure changes, the period of validity will be calculated as beginning 1 June 2020.
Consent
On 1 June 2020, we are introducing a new procedure that affects the letter of authorisation required to be able to pick up someone else’s prescription medicine in a pharmacy (apotek).
According to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), you will need to give you consent to the registration of personal data before this can be done; this applies both if you are a granter of a letter of authorisation or if you are receiving the authorisation as an agent. If you are an agent, for it to take effect you will need to give your consent either within seven calendar days of the new registration of a letter of authorisation, or no later than 31 January 2021 if a letter of authorisation is already registered when the new letter of authorisation procedure takes effect, otherwise the authority under the letter of authorisation will be terminated.
Register a letter of authorisation and give consent digitally
You can register a letter of authorisation to another individual and give your consent digitally via the Läkemedelskollen/Medicine Check, e-service.
Register a letter of authorisation and give consent in the Läkemedelskollen/Medicine Check e-service
(This e-service is only available in Swedish)
You can also perform this task via logging in to 1177.se and clicking on the prescription medicine services link ("läkemedelstjänster").
The information is only available in Swedish
The service is also available at all pharmacies.
Register a letter of authorisation and give consent in English
If you want to register a letter of authorisation in English, you can use a form.
Register a letter of authorisation and give consent using a form in English
Perhaps you have some questions?
Contact the e-hälsomyndigheten/Swedish eHealth Agency
Telephone: 0771-766 200
E‑mail: registrator@ehalsomyndigheten.se