Common question · Home nursing
Do you need a prescription for a home nurse?
Read: 5 minUpdated: 2026-07-02
Quick answer
A medical prescription is required for prescribed acts: injections, IV drips, complex dressings, blood tests or medication administration. Comfort care and personal assistance, however, do not require one. In Marrakech, SAMU Marrakech guides you based on the care requested, 24/7.
Care that requires a prescription
The rule is simple: any delegated medical act requires a prescription signed by a doctor. This covers injections (intramuscular, subcutaneous, insulin), IV drips, the placement and monitoring of catheters, complex and post-operative dressings, blood tests and samples, and medication administration by protocol. The prescription protects the patient: it states the product, dose, frequency and duration. Without it, the nurse cannot legally perform these acts. Always keep the prescription and medication boxes handy for the visit, at your riad, hotel or home.
Care that does not require a prescription
Not every need requires a prescription. Washing and hygiene, help getting up and to bed, monitoring an elderly person, patient-sitting, companionship and health-education advice can be arranged without a prescription. These are comfort services, in high demand among Marrakech families and among tourists staying with a fragile relative. You can therefore request a nurse or care assistant directly, simply describing the need when you call.
How to organise care in Marrakech
The process is smooth. You call SAMU Marrakech, describe the care, and we immediately tell you whether a prescription is required. If so, prepare it — from your doctor or a hospital discharge. We then schedule a visit from a state-certified nurse, in Gueliz, Hivernage, the Palmeraie or a riad in the Medina, with the necessary sterile equipment. For regular treatment, we set up a visit schedule to ensure continuity of care.
Good to know before the first visit
A few habits make the first visit easier. Gather the current prescription, the health record or hospital discharge report, the list of treatments and any test results. Flag any known allergies. Tourists should also keep their insurance documents handy. For a blood test, a prescription is also required, and some tests require fasting: we will confirm this when booking.
Related questions
Yes. As in a laboratory, a home blood test requires a medical prescription stating the tests requested. Some tests require fasting; we will confirm this when booking.