Queensland Consolidated Regulations

HEALTH (DRUGS AND POISONS) REGULATION 1996 - REG 79

79 Prescribing controlled drugs

(1) A prescriber must not prescribe a controlled drug unless the prescription is made in a way that complies with this section.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) , a prescription for a controlled drug must not prescribe more than 1 item.

(3) A prescription for a controlled drug may prescribe more than 1 item if each item is for the same controlled drug, including different forms of the drug.

(4) The following particulars must appear on the front of a paper prescription or in an electronic prescription—

(a) the prescriber’s name, professional qualifications and address;

(b) the date it is made;

(c) if the controlled drug is for human use—the name, address and date of birth of the person for whose use it is prescribed;

(d) if the controlled drug is for an animal—the name and address of the animal’s owner;

(e) the description of the controlled drug or the name of the preparation and the quantity or volume (in words and figures) of the drug or preparation;

(f) adequate directions about the use of the controlled drug;

(g) the dose to be taken or administered and if more than 1 item is prescribed the dose to be taken or administered for each item;

(h) if a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant prescribes a dose that is more than the official dose—

(i) for a paper prescription—a direction, to dispense the higher dose, that is underlined and initialled by the doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant; or

(ii) for an electronic prescription—an indication that the prescription is for a dose that is more than the official dose;

(i) if a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or veterinary surgeon intends that the controlled drug be dispensed more than once—a direction stating—

(i) the number of times (after the first) the drug may be dispensed; and

(ii) the time that must elapse between each dispensing of the drug;

(j) if the controlled drug is medicinal cannabis—‘Approved’;

(k) if the controlled drug is amphetamine, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylamphetamine or methylphenidate—‘Specified condition’;

(l) if the prescriber is a veterinary surgeon—‘For animal treatment only’;

(m) if the prescriber is a dentist—‘For dental treatment only’;

(n) if the prescriber is a surgical podiatrist—‘For treatment of foot conditions only’.

(5) All particulars on a paper prescription (other than the prescriber’s name, professional qualifications and address) must be handwritten.

(6) However, a paper prescription may be generated—

(a) by a computer if the way the prescription is generated complies with appendix 4 of this regulation; or

(b) in another certified way.

(7) The prescriber must sign a paper prescription or electronically sign an electronic prescription.

(8) If the prescriber amends a prescription—

(a) for a paper prescription—the prescriber must initial and date the amendment; or

(b) for an electronic prescription—the prescriber must make the amendment in the approved way.

(9) If a prescription prescribes more than 1 item—

(a) the items must be numbered consecutively; and

(b) a line must be ruled under the last item.

(10) In this section—

"approved way" means the way approved by the chief executive.