121How medicines are dispensed

121 How medicines are dispensed (1) The following are the requirements for dispensing a medicine: (a) the prescription is issued by an authorised prescriber; Note Authorised prescriber—see s (4). (b) the prescription complies with the applicable provisions of division 3.1.2 (Prescriptions); (c) the medicine is dispensed in accordance with the prescription (including the prescription as changed by a pharmacist at the oral direction of the prescriber). Note 1 Dispensed in accordance with the prescription—see s (4). Note 2 For changes to a prescription by the dispenser, see the Act, s 29 (3). Note 3 Pharmacist does not include an intern pharmacist (see dict). (2) However, a pharmacist may dispense a prescription that does not include all of the applicable provisions for subsection (1) (b) if— (a) the prescription is issued by an authorised prescriber; and (b) the medicine is— (i) dispensed in accordance with the prescription; and (ii) if the prescription is changed by a pharmacist at the oral direction of the prescriber—the prescription complies with section 122; and

(c) the medicine is supplied in a package that is labelled in accordance with section 123; and (d) the pharmacist is satisfied that, because of a circumstance affecting the prescriber or the person for whom the medicine is to be dispensed, it is not practicable for a complying prescription to be issued for the medicine. (3) Also, a pharmacist may dispense a prescription that does not comply with section 41 (1) if the reason it does not comply is because it does not include the date of birth or address of the person for whom the medicine is prescribed. Note The dispensing pharmacist must ensure a written record is made of the name, date of birth and address of the person for whom the medicine is dispensed (see s 125 (g)). authorised prescriber means— (a) for a prescription prescribing buprenorphine or methadone for treatment of opioid dependency—a prescriber approved under division 13.1.3 to prescribe the medicine for the treatment of opioid dependency; or (b) for any other prescription—a prescriber. Example—paragraph (a) A doctor employed by an alcohol and drug service prescribing buprenorphine or methadone to treat the opioid dependency for a patient. Example—paragraph (b) A doctor practising as a general practitioner prescribing buprenorphine or methadone to treat chronic pain for a patient. dispensed in accordance with the prescription, for a prescribed medicine, includes dispensing another brand of the medicine that is a bioequivalent form of the prescribed medicine.