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PHARMACY AND POISONS (CONTROL OF PRESCRIPTIONS) REGULATIONS

BR 130 / 2022

48(1)(c) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1979, makes the following Regulations:

Citation

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Pharmacy and Poisons (Control of Prescriptions) Regulations 2022.

Interpretation

2 In these Regulations—

“patient group direction” means written instructions by a practitioner that allow any practitioner to sell, supply or administer named medicines in an identified clinical situation, without needing a written, patient-specific prescription from an approved prescriber.

PHARMACY AND POISONS (CONTROL OF PRESCRIPTIONS) REGULATIONS

Valid repeat prescriptions

3 Where a prescription is to be repeated, the practitioner shall initial and circle thereon the specific number of times (not exceeding four) that prescription is to be repeated and such prescriptions shall, for the purpose of repeats, be invalid if instructions in respect of repeats are omitted from the prescription form.

Restrictions on repeats of a prescription

4 Any pharmacist or person who, after the initial dispense or sale of any substance for which a prescription has been issued, repeats in excess of four times subsequent dispensing or sales of that substance under the same prescription commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2,000 or 12 months imprisonment, or both.

Valid prescription form; patient specific

5 A valid patient-specific prescription form shall contain—

(a) the name and address of the patient, including the age of the patient if the patient is under 12 years of age;

(b) the name of the drug, or when necessary the ingredients, and the strength where applicable;

(c) the quantity of the drug to be dispensed;

(d) the dosage instructions for use by the patient which shall include a specific frequency or interval or maximum daily dose;

(e) the name, initials, address and telephone number of the practitioner;

(f) the date on which the prescription is written;

(g) the practitioner’s signature;

(h) the refill authorization shall indicate the specific number of refills in the manner provided in regulation 3;

(i) the ability to indicate, in the format required by the Chief Medical Officer, if a substitution permitted in section 24 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act

1979 is not allowed.

Valid prescription form; patient group direction

6 A valid patient group direction prescription form shall contain—

(a) the period during which the direction is to have effect;

(b) the description or class of medicinal product to which the direction relates;

(c) the clinical situations which medicinal products of that description or class may be used to treat or manage in any form;

PHARMACY AND POISONS (CONTROL OF PRESCRIPTIONS) REGULATIONS

(d) whether there are any restrictions on the quantity of medicinal product that may be sold or supplied on any one occasion and, if so, what restrictions;

(e) the clinical criteria under which a person is to be eligible for treatment;

(f) whether any class of person is excluded from treatment under the direction and, if so, what class of person;

(g) whether there are circumstances in which further advice should be sought from a prescriber and, if so, what circumstances;

(h) the pharmaceutical form or forms in which medicinal products of that description or class are to be administered;

(i) the strength, or maximum strength, at which medicinal products of that description or class are to be administered;

(j) the applicable dosage or maximum dosage;

(k) the route of administration;

(l) the frequency of administration;

(m) any minimum or maximum period of administration applicable to medicinal products of that description or class;

(n) whether there are any relevant warnings to note and, if so, what warnings;

(o) whether there is any follow up action to be taken in any circumstances and, if so, what action and in what circumstances;

(p) arrangements for referral for medical advice;

(q) Details of the records to be kept of the supply, or the administration, of products under the direction.

Revocation of the Pharmacy and Poisons (Control of Prescriptions Regulations 1979

7 The Pharmacy and Poisons (Control of Prescriptions) Regulations 1979 are hereby revoked.

Made this 6th day of December 2022

Minister of Health

PHARMACY AND POISONS (CONTROL OF PRESCRIPTIONS) REGULATIONS

[Operative Date: 07 December 2022]