This new measure aims to ensure that these highly addictive substances are used strictly according to medical guidelines, officials said.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna announced via social media that opioid prescriptions will be subject to strict scrutiny.
Starting this week, the minister will receive daily reports from a newly established team, which will include representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Revenue Administration, and the police.
Any irregularities regarding medicinal products containing psychotropic substances and narcotics will be reported to the National Police Headquarters.
In any cases involving unjustified issuance of opioid prescriptions, including fentanyl, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate will be required to notify law enforcement authorities.
"The sensitive data of patients is absolutely safe," Leszczyna said. "We will provide anonymized data. The police will be able to track down criminals and fraudsters. Patients who genuinely need psychotropic or opioid medications will have access to them as determined by their doctors."
Leszczyna also said that the new approach will better protect patients from the abuse of medications, which can be deadly.
The continuous monitoring system for opioids is designed to eliminate the possibility of filling the same prescription for controlled substances at different pharmacies across the country or via online prescription services, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP