An overview of what you need to know about drugs of dependence, what they are and why and how they are regulated in South Australia
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