What does a prescription provide?

A prescription serves as a formal instruction from a licensed healthcare provider to a pharmacist regarding the dispensing of medication to a patient. It details the specific medication to be provided, the dosage, the frequency of administration, and any necessary instructions for use. This ensures that the patient receives the proper treatment according to their medical needs, based on the healthcare provider's assessment.

While over-the-counter medications are generally available without a prescription, they do not require a formal written order from a doctor, making that choice less relevant. Similarly, while a diagnosis is important for treatment, the prescription itself does not provide this information; it is a directive for how to address the diagnosis. Finally, a record of patient medical history is essential for understanding a patient's overall health but is not the function of a prescription, which focuses specifically on the medication side of treatment. Hence, the primary purpose of a prescription is to provide instructions for medical treatment as directed by a healthcare professional.