The sale of medicine via websites must adhere to the principles of dispensing as per the Rules relating to good pharmacy practice (GPP).
The purpose of this standard is to regulate dispensing activities provided by community or institutional pharmacy by way of websites, where there may be no face to face contact with the patient.
| 1.5.3 |
General considerations |
| (a) |
A pharmacy registered or licensed and recorded may sell, inter alia, medicines directly to the public via their pharmacy specific website, in accordance with applicable legislation. |
| (b) |
Such a website must fall under the authority of the responsible pharmacist of the pharmacy of which it forms a part, and be operated in compliance with all relevant legislation including the Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974, the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1961, the Rules relating to Good Pharmacy Practice and any other related regulations. |
| (c) |
A website that is used to sell medicines must be operated by a pharmacy. |
| (d) |
The distribution or delivery of medicine must be done in accordance with applicable legislation. |
| 1.5.4 |
Standards for community or institutional pharmacies operating websites |
| (a) |
The decision to sell a medicine must be made by a pharmacist who must be available for consultation with clients. |
| (b) |
The handling of prescriptions must be in compliance with all legislation that applies to the supply of medicine including that— |
| (i) |
a pharmacist must verify the authenticity of all electronic prescriptions; |
| (ii) |
a permanent copy of all electronic prescriptions must be recorded and filed; |
| (iii) |
all electronic prescriptions must be followed by the original prescription within seven working days; |
| (iv) |
only the prescriptions of persons authorised to prescribe in South Africa may be dispensed (NOTE — prescribers not registered in South Africa are not authorised prescribers in this country); |
| (v) |
the website must be operated in compliance with all regulations and rules regarding the transparent pricing system for medicine and scheduled substances, the advertising of medicine and the services for which a pharmacist may levy a fee and guidelines for levying of fees. |
| (c) |
The home page of any pharmacy website must identify the website as being operated by a pharmacy licensed by NDOH and recorded with Council and provide the following information; |
| (i) |
the registration number (Y number) of the pharmacy; |
| (ii) |
the physical and postal address of the pharmacy; |
| (iii) |
telephone number(s) to contact the pharmacy; |
| (iv) |
the name of the responsible pharmacist; |
| (v) |
the hours that a pharmacist is available for consultation. |
| (d) |
Patient health information must be collected, recorded and used in a manner that protects confidentiality and privacy. |
| (e) |
The website must provide information to the public regarding policies and procedures for the following: |
| (i) |
counselling patients on new and repeat prescriptions; |
| (ii) |
counselling patients on medicines sold without a prescription; |
| (iii) |
delivery of medicine; |
| (iv) |
return of medicines; |
| (v) |
complaints procedures; |
| (vi) |
confidentiality of patient information; |
| (vii) |
hours of provision of service or hours of business of the pharmacy. |
| (f) |
The responsible pharmacist must inform Council of any information as required in terms of the Pharmacy Act as well as the following: |
| (i) |
when a pharmacy is going to be conducting business over the website; |
| (ii) |
the website address; |
| (iii) |
nature of the business; |
| (iv) |
the telephone number if different from the pharmacy. |
| (g) |
The website operation must be available for onsite inspection by Council inspectors. |
| (h) |
Pharmacists remain professionally liable regardless of any disclaimers which may be posted on the website. |
[Rule 1.5 substituted by Board Notice 193, GG 40522, dated 23 December 2016]
Stamp Duties Act, 1968 (Act 77 of 1968)
