Dispensing of interstate prescriptions

Schedule 4 medicines

Prescriptions for schedule 4 medicines (such as blood pressure medications or cholesterol lowering tablets) written by prescribers in another state or territory can be dispensed in South Australia. Similarly, prescriptions for schedule 4 medicines written in South Australia can be dispensed in another state or territory.

Schedule 8 medicines

Prescriptions for schedule 8 medicines written by prescribers in another state or territory can be dispensed in South Australia provided the pharmacist dispensing the prescription:

  • knows the person for whom the medication has been prescribed, OR
  • recognises the signature of the prescriber on the prescription, OR
  • has verified the prescription by contacting the prescriber1.

Prescriptions for schedule 8 medicines written in South Australia may not be valid in another state or territory. The relevant state or territory authority should be contacted for further information. Please refer below for a list of contact details for each state/territory.

Note: this also applies to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) prescriptions.

State/territory regulatory body contacts

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Health, Pharmaceutical Services
Phone: (02) 5124 9208

New South Wales

Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Services
Phone: (02) 9391 9944

Northern Territory

Department of Health (NT), Medicines and Poisons
Phone: (08) 8922 7341

Queensland

Queensland Health, Healthcare Approvals and Regulation Unit
Phone: (07) 3708 5264

Tasmania

Department of Health and Human Services, Pharmaceutical Services Branch
Phone: (03) 6166 0400

Victoria

Department of Health (Victoria), Medicines and Poisons Regulation
Phone: 1300 364 545

Western Australia

Department of Health (WA), Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Phone: (08) 9222 6883


1 Regulation 35A(4)(a) of the Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulation 2011