What is required for a prescription to be considered valid?

A prescription is considered valid when it is prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider for a legitimate medical purpose. This requirement is fundamental because it ensures that the medication is intended to treat a medical condition based on a professional evaluation of the patient’s health. Each prescription needs to reflect a genuine doctor-patient relationship where the prescriber has the authority and knowledge to determine the necessity of the medication.

While legibility and other factors may aid in the processing of a prescription, they do not determine its validity. A complete medical history, though important for the prescriber’s decision-making, is not a mandatory component on the actual prescription itself. Furthermore, the inclusion of a printed label from the pharmacy relates to the dispensing process rather than the validity of the prescription as written by the healthcare provider. This underscores the importance of the prescriber’s role in ensuring appropriate treatment rather than the technicalities of the prescription's presentation.