ABSTRACT
A prescription (px) is a health-care programme implemented by a medical or non-medical prescriber. The prescription is a set of instructions that govern the accurate dispensing of medicines and the subsequent administration of the right medicine to the right patient, at the right dose, at the right time via the right route, by the patient. The concept of prescriptions dates back to the beginning of history. Prescribing is the main approach to the treatment and prevention of disease and illness. The majority of people who have mental health problems initially seek help from their general practitioner (GP). Primary care health workers can manage mental illness by applying the biopsychosocial model. Prescribers in primary care are more likely to initiate treatment for the less severe mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Safe and effective use of medicines in primary care can have a huge impact on the health economy but there are barriers to prescribing.
