Hainan Bans AI-Generated Prescriptions and Fake Online Consultations in Pharmacies
The Hainan Medical Products Administration has issued new measures that completely ban AI-generated prescriptions, fake online consultations, and post-facto prescriptions in retail pharmacies. The policy enforces a "physician prescribes + pharmacist reviews" double-verification mechanism and prohibits pharmacies from partnering with non-compliant internet hospitals. This regulation addresses the growing issue of pharmacies using AI or fake consultations to bypass safety checks, ensuring patient safety in digital healthcare. It sets a regional precedent for stricter governance over AI integration in medical decision-making and retail pharmacy operations. The measures mandate a strict "no prescribing for first-time visits" rule for partner internet hospitals and require real-name registration for patients. Additionally, a "one item, one code" drug traceability system will be strictly implemented to track prescription drugs throughout the entire supply chain.
## BACKGROUND
In China, national regulations established by the National Health Commission in 2018 prohibit internet hospitals from conducting online consultations or issuing prescriptions for first-time patients, limiting digital healthcare to follow-up visits for common or chronic illnesses. Furthermore, China has been promoting "one item, one code" traceability systems to assign unique digital identifiers to drug packages, ensuring transparency from production to retail.