Public health emergency order (PHEO#22) has been issued by the Victorian Department of Health due to serious risk to public health resulting from floods in Victoria. PHEO#22 authorises a registered pharmacist to supply a Schedule 4 medicine to a patient for continued treatment without a prescription subject to the following conditions: 

  • there is an immediate need for the medicine and it is impracticable for the patient to obtain a prescription in time to meet that need
  • treatment with the medicine has previously been provided for by a prescription issued, or a chart instruction written, for the patient by a prescriber
  • the patient, or an agent of the patient, or a person who has the care of the patient, or a person who is assisting in the care of the patient, is aware of the appropriate dose of that medicine for that patient 

The quantity of the medicine supplied must not exceed: 

  • for a medicine that is on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the standard Pharmaceutical Benefits maximum quantity
  • for a medicine that is not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the quantity that is contained in the smallest commercially available pack 

A pharmacist is required to make a record that supply was made under PHEO#22. 

Advice to pharmacists utilising PHEO#22 

PHEO#22 places an onus on a pharmacist to ensure that the Schedule 4 medicine has previously been prescribed for the patient and there is an immediate need for continued treatment. Options to confirm that the Schedule 4 medicine was previously prescribed for the patient may include prior records, dispensing labels on packaging and verbal or written medication history from the patient. Pharmacists should exercise their professional judgement to ensure supply is safe for the patient. There is no mandatory requirement for a pharmacist to supply a medicine under PHEO#22. 

Alternative options 

Medical practitioners and other suitably registered health practitioners may issue verbal instructions to a pharmacist to supply a Schedule 4 or a Schedule 8 medicine if, in the opinion of the practitioner, an emergency exists (Regulation 25 of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017). The prescriber who issues verbal instructions must, as soon as practicable, send written confirmation (most commonly in the form of a prescription) to the pharmacist.