Queensland Consolidated Regulations

HEALTH (DRUGS AND POISONS) REGULATION 1996 - REG 84

84 Dealing with paper prescriptions and particular written instructions

(1) This section applies to a dispenser who—

(a) dispenses a controlled drug on a paper prescription; or

(b) dispenses a controlled drug on an acceptable electronic copy of a paper prescription and later receives the paper prescription; or

(c) administers or supplies a controlled drug on a written instruction.

(2) The dispenser must, at the relevant time for dispensing, administering or supplying the controlled drug, legibly and permanently indicate the following information on the prescription or written instruction—

(a) for a prescription—the prescription has been dispensed;

(b) for a written instruction—the drug has been administered or supplied;

(c) the date;

(d) the name or initials of the dispenser;

(e) the name and address of the dispensary;

(f) for a repeat prescription—the repeat number.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(3) The dispenser must send the chief executive the prescription or written instruction—

(a) in paper form; or

(b) in an approved electronic form by electronic communication.

(4) If the dispenser sends the prescription or written instruction under subsection (3) (a) , the dispenser must—

(a) for a repeat prescription—send the prescription within 14 days after dispensing the controlled drug on the final repeat of the prescription; or

(b) for another prescription—send the prescription within 14 days after dispensing the controlled drug; or

(c) for a written instruction—send the instruction within 14 days after carrying out the final administration or supply of the controlled drug on the instruction.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(5) If the dispenser sends the prescription or written instruction under subsection (3) (b) , the dispenser must—

(a) send the prescription or written instruction—

(i) for a repeat prescription—within 7 days after the end of each week in which the controlled drug is dispensed on a repeat, including the final repeat, of the prescription; or

(ii) for another prescription—within 7 days after the end of the week in which the controlled drug is dispensed; or

(iii) for a written instruction—within 7 days after the end of the month in which the final administration or supply of the controlled drug on the instruction is carried out; and

(b) keep the prescription or written instruction in paper form.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(6) Also, even if a dispenser has sent the chief executive a paper prescription or written instruction in an approved electronic form, the chief executive may give a written notice to the dispenser requiring the dispenser to send the chief executive the prescription or written instruction in paper form within the period, of at least 14 days, stated in the notice.

(7) The dispenser must comply with a notice given to the dispenser under subsection (6) .

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(8) If the dispenser dispenses the controlled drug on a repeat prescription, but not as the last repeat, the dispenser must give the chief executive a written notice of the relevant information for the prescription within 14 days after dispensing the controlled drug.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(9) Subsection (8) does not apply if the dispenser sends the repeat prescription to the chief executive in an approved electronic form under subsection (5) (a) (i) .

(10) If a dispenser is asked to dispense more of a controlled drug for a person than appears to be reasonably necessary, or more frequently than appears to be reasonably necessary, the dispenser must immediately give the chief executive a written notice about—

(a) the circumstances in which the dispenser has been asked to dispense the controlled drug; and

(b) the quantity of the drug dispensed and when it has been dispensed for the person.

(11) Subsection (2) (a) applies to a repeat prescription only if the last repeat of the prescription is dispensed.

(12) Subsection (2) (a) does not apply to a duplicate of a paper prescription issued under the National Health Act or Veterans Entitlements Act .

(13) In this section—

"relevant information" , for a prescription, means—

(a) the information appearing on the front of the prescription; and

(b) the information the dispenser is required to write on the prescription when dispensing the controlled drug.

"relevant time" , for dispensing, administering or supplying a controlled drug, means—

(a) if the drug is dispensed on a paper prescription—when the drug is dispensed; or

(b) if the drug is dispensed on an acceptable electronic copy of a paper prescription that is later received by a dispenser—as soon as practicable after the paper prescription is received by the dispenser; or

(c) if the drug is administered or supplied—when the drug is administered or supplied.