To control the cost of drugs prescribed by general practitioners (GPs), the Netherlands Ministry of Health decided to implement an electronic prescription system. This paper uses an interpretive perspective to analyse the reasons for limited acceptance of the system. While the promotion campaign focused on the system, GPs based their decision on wider contextual factors.

Abstract

To control the cost of drugs prescribed by general practitioners (GPs), the Netherlands Ministry of Health decided to implement an electronic prescription system. This paper uses an interpretive perspective to analyse the reasons for limited acceptance of the system. While the promotion campaign focused on the system, GPs based their decision on wider contextual factors.