Can I buy prescription medicines without a prescription?
No – medicines classified as »prescription-only« (Rp) may be dispensed by a pharmacy only on a valid prescription, not over the counter on request. In Slovenia the standard today is the eRecept: the doctor signs it electronically, and at the pharmacy the pharmacist calls it up when you give your health insurance card (KZZ) or the prescription number. Which medicines are prescription-only and which are sold freely (BRp) is set by the classification at JAZMP. A stubborn myth is that antibiotics are available »off the shelf« without a prescription: they are not – they are dispensed only on prescription, which because it expires quickly must be collected within three days. A normal (non-renewable) prescription is valid for one month from issue, a prescription for narcotics only five days; a renewable prescription is valid for up to one year, but the first collection must be within a month. Another myth is that you can simply order prescription medicines from a foreign online seller – medicines may be dispensed only through licensed pharmacies, and the online sale of prescription medicines is prohibited and risky because of counterfeits.
📋 The rules
- Medicines classified as prescription-only (Rp, Rp/Spec) are dispensed only on a valid prescription; only non-prescription medicines (BRp) are sold freely.
- The standard today is the eRecept – the doctor signs it electronically, and at the pharmacy your health insurance card (KZZ) or the prescription number is enough.
- A normal (non-renewable) prescription is valid for one month from issue; an antibiotic prescription must be collected within three days and narcotics within five days.
- A renewable prescription is valid for up to one year, but the first collection must be made within one month of issue.
- Medicines may be dispensed only through licensed pharmacies; the online sale of prescription medicines is prohibited.
🔓 Exceptions
- Some non-prescription medicines are available only in a pharmacy (BRp-Z), others also in specialised shops and drugstores (BRp-D).
- In urgent cases a pharmacy may dispense an emergency quantity of a prescription medicine even without a prescription, if treatment is urgent and an interruption would endanger the patient.
- A prescription from another EU country can be filled at a Slovenian pharmacy (a European prescription) if it contains the required details about the medicine and the patient.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
For the patient the main consequence is simple: without a valid prescription you will not get prescription medicines at the pharmacy, and the pharmacist may not dispense them. Anyone who forges or alters a prescription (for example changes the quantity or adds a medicine) commits the criminal offence of document forgery, which is far more serious than a misdemeanour. Ordering prescription medicines from foreign websites is risky on several levels: the parcel may be seized by customs, the medicine may be a counterfeit with no active ingredient or the wrong dose, and liability for any harm is practically unenforceable. Oversight of the medicines market and of pharmacies is carried out by JAZMP, which can act against illegal sales. Misusing antibiotics without medical supervision also accelerates bacterial resistance, which is exactly why they are prescription-only. Unauthorised possession of medicines containing controlled drugs can also be a misdemeanour or a criminal offence under drug legislation.
📎 Official sources
- JAZMP · medicines for human use →
- PISRS · Rules on classification, prescribing and dispensing of medicines →
- eZdravje · eRecept →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I get an antibiotic without a prescription?
No, antibiotics in Slovenia are prescription-only medicines and a pharmacy may not dispense them without a prescription. Because the medicine expires quickly, an antibiotic prescription must be collected within three days of issue, or it lapses.
How long is a prescription valid?
A normal non-renewable prescription is valid for one month from issue, while an antibiotic prescription must be collected within three days and narcotics within five days. A renewable prescription is valid for up to one year, but the first collection must be made within a month of issue.
What is an eRecept and do I need paper?
An eRecept is an electronic prescription that the doctor signs digitally, so you generally do not need a paper version. At the pharmacy it is enough to give your health insurance card or the prescription number, and the pharmacist calls up the medicine from the system.
Can I buy prescription medicines from a foreign website?
Prescription medicines may be dispensed only through licensed pharmacies, and the online sale of prescription medicines is prohibited. Buying from a foreign online seller is risky, since the parcel may be seized by customs and the medicine may be a counterfeit with no active ingredient.
Can I fill a Slovenian prescription abroad?
Yes, there is a European prescription that you can fill at a pharmacy in another EU country if it contains all the required details. Likewise, a prescription from another EU country can be filled at a Slovenian pharmacy under the same conditions.
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