Issues on Dispensing
Dr Percy Mahlathi
National Drug Policy 1996
- Availability & accessibility of medicines
- Safety, efficacy & quality
- Rational use by prescribers, dispensers & patients through training, education & information
- Concept of individual responsibility for health, preventive care & informed decision making
National Drug Policy
- Lower cost in private & public sectors
- Promote cost-effective & rational use
- Establish complementary partnership between government and private providers in pharmaceutical sector
Registration & Licensing
- Only registered practitioners & licensed (Act 101 of 1965)
- Medical Practitioners & Nurses not permitted to dispense except where no services available .
- For doctors & nurses to dispense, need dispensing license
Registration & Licensing
- Proven competency by virtue of successful completion of training programme
- Uniform norms & standards incorporated into one set of regulations
- Non pharmacist ownership, pharmacy to be under the full- time management & supervision of a registered pharmacist
Act 90 OF 1997
- Many aspects of national drug policy incorporated into Act 90
- Consideration of objective conditions
- Ensure minimum deviation from policy position
- Leave room for improvement based on experience gathered during implementation
Other issues in GP
- Market forces
- Direct payment
- Self referral to specialists
- Pre –authorization
- Oversupply in certain areas
- HMO’s
Progress on licensing