Requirements for prescriptions in Western Australia
Requirements for prescriptions in Western Australia
Prescriptions must include all of the following information:
- name, address and telephone number of the prescriber
- name and address of the patient or species of animal and the name and address of the person caring for the animal for veterinary prescriptions
- for prescriptions for S4 medicines which are not for veterinary use – the patient’s date of birth (unless the pharmacist is satisfied on reasonable grounds of the patient’s date of birth)
- medicine name, strength and formulation
- precise directions for use (dosage and frequency)
- quantity to be dispensed
- number of repeats permitted (if any)
- date the prescription was issued
- signature of the prescriber.
Prescribers are not required to write parts of computer generated S8 prescriptions by hand, however all prescriptions must be signed in ink by a presciber.
Only health professionals authorised under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, and acting in the lawful practice of their profession, can prescribe medicines.
Prescribers must prescribe within their scope of practice and comply with the Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016.
In addition to the standard requirements for a prescription, when prescribing S8 medicines authorised prescribers must include:
- a minimum repeat dispensing interval
- the patient’s verified date of birth.
A prescription for S8 medicines must not include any S4 medicines.
Prescribers must comply with the Monitored Medicines Prescribing Code (PDF 1MB). For a number of S8 medicines, prior approval is required from the Department of Health.
S8 medicines should not be prescribed to any new or unknown patient without first checking ScriptCheckWA for information about the patient or contacting the Department of Health Prescriber Information Service on (08) 9222 4424.
Before dispensing any S8 medicine, the pharmacist must take reasonable steps to confirm the genuineness of the prescription. This includes checking the :
- identity and authority of the prescriber
- identity of the person presenting the prescription
- authenticity of the prescription itself.
Where the pharmacist is unfamiliar with the patient, or the treatment is for a S8 medication not previously dispensed at the pharmacy, for that person, by that prescriber, then steps should be taken to verify the prescription. Prescriptions should be verified by speaking to the prescriber in person, via telephone or other equivalent means.
Prescriptions received using an approved electronic prescribing system do not need further verification. Seemingly valid PBS authority approval numbers are not a substitute for personal verification with the prescriber.
Forged prescriptions must be retained and cancelled by the pharmacist. The Department of Health must be immediately advised of all suspected forgeries. Prescribers must report all cases of confirmed or suspected stolen prescription stationery as soon as possible.
Approved Monitored Medicine application forms
Applications must be on the relevant application form, which must be completed in full and, where required, be accompanied by supporting documentation as specified on the form.
Opioids and all other S8 medicines
Applications for opioids and all other S8 medicines not listed below (opioids, ketamine, esketamine, MDMA, psilocybine, benzodiazepines, sodium oxybate, and all other S8 medicines) the approved application form (PDF 315KB).
Medicinal cannabis products
Applications for Medicinal Cannabis Products can be made:
Stimulent medicines
Applications for stimulent medicines must be made on the approved application form (PDF 317KB)
Opioid substitution treatment (OST)
Opioid substitution treatment application form (PDF 317KB)
With the exception of prescriptions for opioid substitution therapy, prescriptions issued by interstate prescribers may be dispensed in WA, as health practitioners are registered nationally via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
To be valid in WA, prescriptions must include all the information normally required by the WA Medicines and Poisons legislation. For S8 prescriptions this includes the patient’s date of birth, exact repeat intervals and precise directions for use.
When dispensing interstate prescriptions for S8 medicines, pharmacists in WA must still take reasonable steps to verify the authenticity of paper-based prescriptions (handwritten and computer-generated). This applies even if the patient presents a repeat prescription, as not all states and territories require paper-based repeats to be retained at the dispensing pharmacy.
Any remaining repeats for paper-based interstate S8 prescriptions must be retained at the dispensing WA pharmacy. If needed, these repeats can be transferred to a pharmacy in another state. Approval is not required to make this transfer. Repeats must not be given back to the patient. For more information about the transfer of S8 prescription repeats, refer to: Transfer of Schedule 8 prescription repeats.
A prescriber may direct a pharmacist to supply an S4 or S8 medicine to a patient in an emergency.
The prescriber who gives this order must then:
- prepare a valid prescription to cover the emergency supply; and
- post the prescription to the pharmacist within 24 hours.
Prescriptions must not be given to the patient to take to the pharmacy.
More information
Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Mailing address: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849
Phone: 9222 6883
Email: MPRB@health.wa.gov.au
