Prescribing

Prescribing

·        Definition of a medicine:

o  “Administered to one or more human beings for a therapeutic purpose”:

§  Treating or preventing disease

§  Altering the shape, size, structure or weight of the human body

§  Cleaning, soaking or lubricating contact lenses

·        Registered medicines:

o  Registered medicines are gazetted and approved by the Ministry of Health

o  Unregistered medicines can be used under section 29 – requires special consent process

o  Unregistered indication

·        Classification of medicines:

o  Prescription medicines

o  Pharmacist only medicines (formerly restricted medicines)

o  Pharmacy medicines (formerly pharmacy only medicines)

o  General sales medicines

o  Controlled drug

·        Legal requirements for all prescription types:

o  Legibly and indelibly printed

o  Signed personally by the prescriber and dated

o  Contain the address of the prescriber

o   Contain the surname, initials and address of the patient

o   If under 13, the child‟s date of birth

o   Indicate the name and where appropriate the strength of the medicine

o   Indicate the total quantity to be dispensed on each occasion

o   Indicate the dose and frequency for medicines intended for internal use

·        There are special script pads and requirements for controlled drugs (see the Preferred Medicines List)