Key Takeaways
Two regulated paths to the same goal. Medicijnen.nl and eFarma make prescription medicines reachable from home while keeping pharmacist oversight intact.
Same law, different emphasis. Both follow Dutch and EU rules; Medicijnen.nl leans “pharmacy-first,” while eFarma differentiates with its mobile experience.
Digital ease within national limits. Online access feels borderless, yet prescriptions, licensing, and delivery remain bounded by Dutch jurisdiction.
Story & Details
Origins and positioning
Medicijnen.nl emerged as a licensed online pharmacy, built around authenticity, professional review, and safe distribution. Its promise is simple: submit a valid Dutch prescription, receive pharmacist validation, and get medicines delivered.
eFarma grew along the same regulatory rails but chose a user-experience twist. The companion app, Mijn eFarma, helps patients track orders, manage repeats, and message pharmacy teams—useful for chronic therapies that demand steady coordination.
How patients use the services
On Medicijnen.nl, a patient selects the medicine, uploads or transfers a valid prescription, and waits for pharmacist review. Once cleared, the order ships domestically under the same standards that govern physical pharmacies.
On eFarma, the flow mirrors that path, with the app layering in reminders, shipment tracking, and direct chats. The digital touches reduce friction without skipping the pharmacist’s gatekeeping role.
Regulation that shapes experience
Under the Dutch Medicines Act, only licensed pharmacies may dispense prescription drugs; non-approved suppliers are out of bounds. At the European level, the Falsified Medicines framework requires safety features such as tamper-evident packaging and 2D barcodes so products can be verified throughout the supply chain. These rules do not slow digital care; they anchor it.
Scope, logistics, and boundaries
Both services are designed for the Netherlands and for prescriptions written to Dutch standards. Deliveries are domestic. Prices follow national rules; there are no subscription gimmicks that blur the line between healthcare and retail. Convenience lives alongside validation, traceability, and data protection.
What sets them apart
Medicijnen.nl speaks most clearly to readers who prize visible compliance and pharmacist counsel at every step.
eFarma answers the same need but prioritises a mobile-first experience. For patients who want real-time updates and app-based coordination, that emphasis matters.
Conclusions
Digital pharmacy in the Netherlands doesn’t try to outrun regulation—it runs with it. Medicijnen.nl and eFarma show that home delivery, secure verification, and pharmacist judgement can share the same lane. The result feels modern yet grounded: fast enough for everyday life, careful enough for medicine. It’s a steady evolution rather than a rupture—trusted care, now within a few clicks, and still unmistakably pharmacy.
Sources
- Medicijnen.nl — official site: https://www.medicijnen.nl
- eFarma — official site: https://www.efarma.nl
- Government of the Netherlands — Buying medicines online: https://www.government.nl/topics/medicines/buying-medicines-online
- Government of the Netherlands — Checking if an online supplier is trustworthy: https://www.government.nl/topics/medicines/question-and-answer/how-do-i-check-whether-an-online-medicine-supplier-can-be-trusted
- Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) — Online medicines (Dutch): https://www.igj.nl/onderwerpen/medicijnen/online-medicijnen
- European Commission — Falsified medicines safety features: https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/falsified-medicines_en
- EUR-Lex — Directive 2011/62/EU (Falsified Medicines): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/62/oj/eng
- YouTube — European Commission: “Falsified medicines: new rules to enhance patients’ safety”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEcKCX7V_BQ
Appendix
Dutch Medicines Act
National law governing who may dispense medicines and how prescription drugs reach patients.
Falsified medicines safety features
EU-mandated elements (such as tamper-evident seals and 2D barcodes) that allow verification and traceability of prescription medicines.
Licensed online pharmacy
A pharmacy that operates digitally but holds the same registration and professional oversight as a brick-and-mortar pharmacy.
Mijn eFarma
The eFarma mobile application for tracking orders, managing repeat prescriptions, and communicating with pharmacy staff.
Pharmacy-first model
An approach that foregrounds pharmacist review, regulated dispensing, and patient advice over marketplace-style pricing tactics.
National jurisdiction
The practical boundary that keeps prescriptions, licensing, and delivery rules tied to the Netherlands—even when access begins online.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 