Buying controlled drugs

29th Aug 2008

The variety of abused drugs has increased, and the use pattern is also changing over time. To prevent controlled drugs for medicine and research from being abused, the regulations enacted in the Law of Pharmaceutical Affairs and the Law for the Control of Narcotics are no longer adequate. Controlled drugs are now defined as addictive narcotics, psychotropic drugs and other drugs for which stronger control is deemed necessary. These drugs are divided into 5 schedules according to whether they are habit forming, and the extent to which they lead to dependence, abuse and social hazards.

controlled drugs

Prescription:

Prescription for controlled drugs can be type-written, handwritten or computer printed. Only the signature of the prescriber has to be handwritten. So any online pharmacy can send/received prescription by fax. Prescription for controlled drugs will be valid upto 28 days (schedule 2, 3 & 4 controlled drugs), maximum quantity is limited to 30 days

Practitioners may obtain Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs from pharmacies or wholesalers for practice use or stock upon the production of a written requisition.

The requisitions must be:

Signed by the prescriber.
State the prescriber’s name and address, and their profession or occupation.
Specify the total quantity of the drug (this does not have to be in words and figures).
Specify the purpose for which it is required, e.g. for practice use.

Electronic Prescription for Controlled Drugs:

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), which is being developed and implemented by the Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP) programme, will allow a patient’s prescription to be sent electronically from their GP to a pharmacy. Once fully operational, if a patient wishes to, they may nominate a preferred pharmacy to which their prescriptions can be sent automatically. Over time, dispensers will also be able to submit reimbursement claims electronically to a reimbursement authority.