An App Can Diagnose You in a Minute. Impressive, But Who Signs the Prescription?

“Enter your symptoms and get a diagnosis in under a minute.”It’s a phrase we see often on health apps powered by artificial intelligence. Some are free, others look like a real alternative to visiting the doctor’s office. But can AI really become a trusted physician? And can it prescribe real medication from a pharmacy?

In reality, AI systems are playing an increasingly advanced role in diagnosing health conditions and offering treatment suggestions. Apps like Ada Health, Babylon Health, and even built-in tools from Google and Meta are now able to analyze symptoms and compare them with large-scale medical data to deliver preliminary diagnoses or treatment recommendations.

But here’s the catch. AI, by law, cannot prescribe medication that can be filled at a pharmacy unless a licensed human doctor approves it.

In the United States, Europe, and Gulf countries, a medical prescription is considered a legal document. It can only be issued by an authorized, certified physician. So even if an AI app gives you a treatment plan or suggests a specific drug, you won’t be able to get it from a pharmacy unless a real doctor reviews your case and signs off.

That said, some medical platforms have started blending AI with human doctors. In these hybrid models, the AI gathers and analyzes your data, then forwards it to a licensed physician who reviews it and issues a prescription within seconds. This approach could become a new model for smart healthcare in the future, combining the speed of technology with human expertise.

So yes, you can get help from a smart doctor in your pocket, for free, and in minutes. But when it comes to getting real medication, the human signature still holds the key.