For some time, Latvians could purchase prescription medications in the EU only if they presented paper prescriptions issued by Latvian doctors. This allowed them not to carry a whole bag of medications during long trips, but it was not very convenient. However, starting from January 1, 2024, Latvians have been given the opportunity to acquire prescription medications in other EU countries, even if they are issued electronically in Latvia. This is indeed convenient. For example, if you fall ill while traveling, instead of struggling to see unfamiliar doctors in a foreign country, you can simply contact your family doctor in Latvia, who will prescribe you medication considering your chronic conditions. The prescription will be issued in Latvia, and you can pick it up with your passport, for instance, in Spain. Not everywhere, though; the list of EU countries where this is possible is slowly but surely expanding. Until recently, the electronic prescription exchange system was available to Latvians in Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Cyprus, and some areas of Spain, but recently Greece has been added to this list, making a total of 11 EU countries. In turn, residents of Greece will be able to use e-prescriptions issued in their country in Latvia. Cross-border exchange of medical data with Greece also means that when providing assistance to residents of Latvia, Greek medical professionals will have access to certain essential health data about the patient. This includes individual diagnoses as well as information about surgical interventions performed in the last six months. However, there is one important nuance. If a Latvian doctor issues an electronic prescription for a state-reimbursed medication, it will have to be paid for entirely out of pocket abroad. To get the money back, upon returning home, one must submit an application to the National Health Service. Overall, as noted by the LDVC, the ability to use Latvian e-prescriptions abroad is quite in demand and shows steady growth. Last year, residents of Latvia used 2,419 electronic prescriptions abroad. In turn, foreigners purchased medications in our pharmacies using their home e-prescriptions 1,295 times. In the first six months of this year, 1,309 e-prescriptions issued in Latvia were used abroad, which is 7% more than in the same period last year. At the same time, in Latvia during this period, foreigners purchased medications using 794 e-prescriptions issued in other countries, which is 43% more than a year earlier.