Pharmacists - Continued Dispensing Initiative
The first Minister-approved list of Schedule 4 poisons that could be supplied in accordance with the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2012 was made under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006 and published in the Victoria Government Gazette G 35 29 August 2013.
The Minister-approved list was updated to refer to the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017.
On 1 July 2022 the Commonwealth made the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2022 and repealed the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2012.
The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances 2017 adopted the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2022 by reference on 18 October 2022. Details are contained in regulations 47(1)(f) and 57.
Supply is in accordance with the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2022 and from a list of Schedule 4 poisons approved by the Minister for Health under regulation 159.
The list of Schedule 4 poisons approved by the Minister for Health is published in the Victoria Government Gazette G45 10 November 2022 pp 4397-4401 - on the gazette website.
The 2022 Determination adopted by reference on 18 October 2022 is located on the legislation website and be accessed via this link
Nurse practitioners
Under s. 14A(1) of the Act, the Minister for Health has approved for a nurse practitioner or a class of nurse practitioner authorised under section 13(1)(ba) of the Act to use, sell or supply any Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 poison or class of Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 poison in the lawful practice of his or her profession as a nurse practitioner.
From 23 July 2020, nurse practitioners in Victoria no longer have a notation on their registration that links to a specific list of Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 poisons approved by the Minister for Health. From that date, nurse practitioners in Victoria are able to use, sell or supply any Schedule 2, 3 ,4 or 8 medicine in accordance with their scope of practice.
As nurse practitioners are registered nurses, their practice is also be guided by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s professional practice framework. It details how professional decision making within a sound risk management, professional, regulatory and legislative framework is to be managed.
The scope of an individual nurse practitioner's prescribing practice is also supported by their employer's clinical governance framework.
Authorised midwives
Under s. 14a(1) of the Act, the Minister for Health has approved registered midwives authorised under s. 13(1)(bc) of the Act whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to possess, use or supply the following Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 poisons.
Schedule 2 poisons
- clotrimazole
- ibuprofen
- miconazole
- nystatin
- paracetamol.
Schedule 3 poisons
- adrenaline
- chloramphenicol
- clotrimazole
- codeine
- fluconazole
- ibuprofen
- levonorgestrel
- miconazole
- nystatin
- paracetamol.
Schedule 4 poisons
- benzylpenicillin
- cabergoline
- cephalexin
- cephalothin
- clindamycin
- clotrimazole
- diclofenac
- domperidone
- ethinyloestradiol
- etonogestrel
- flucloxacillin
- fluconazole
- hepatitis B vaccine
- ibuprofen
- immunoglobulins
- influenza vaccine
- levonorgestrel
- lignocaine
- lincomycin
- medroxyprogesterone
- metoclopramide
- nitrofurantoin
- nitrous oxide
- norethisterone
- ondansetron
- vaccines.
Schedule 8 poisons
- morphine.
Schedule 4 poisons for emergency and intrapartum use only
- betamethasone
- ergometrine
- misoprostol
- nifedipine
- oxytocin.
This approval was published in the Victorian Government Gazette S410, 30 November 2012.
Authorised optometrists
Under s. 14A(1) of the Act, the Minister for Health has approved registered optometrists whose registration is endorsed by the Optometrists Board of Australia under s. 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 to possess, use or supply any Schedule 2, 3 and 4 poisons that are preparations for the topical use of the eye.
The approval takes effect from the date of publication in the Victorian Government Gazette G26, 1 July 2010.
Authorised podiatrist
Under s. 14A (1) of the Act, the Minister for Health has approved registered podiatrists whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.to possess, use or supply the Schedule 2, 3 and 4 poisons listed in the following sections. These approvals are subject to any limitation that registered podiatrists have as part of their registration by the Podiatrists Board of Australia under s. 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009.
The approval takes effect from the date of publication in the Victorian Government Gazette G26, 1 July 2010.
Schedule 2 poisons
Podiatrists may prescribe the following Schedule 2 poisons:
- amorolfine
- aspirin
- bifonazole
- clotrimazole
- codeine
- desloratidine
- diclofenac
- econazole
- hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone acetate
- ibuprofen
- ketoconazole
- lignocaine
- miconazole
- nystatin
- paracetamol
- prilocaine
- terbinafine.
Schedule 3 poisons
Podiatrists may prescribe the following Schedule 3 poisons:
- amorolfine
- codeine
- diclofenac
- hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone acetate
- ibuprofen
- promethazine.
Schedule 4 poisons
Podiatrists may prescribe the following Schedule 4 poisons. Note that some poisons have limitations:
- adrenaline
- amoxycillin
- aspirin
- betamethasone
- bupivacaine
- celecoxib
- cephalexin
- clavulanic acid
- clindamycin
- codeine
- colchicine
- desloratidine
- desonide
- dexamethasone
- diclofenac
- dicloxacillin
- felypressin
- flucloxacillin
- griseofulvin
- hydrocortisone
- ibuprofen
- indomethacin
- ketorolac
- levobupivacaine
- lignocaine
- lorazepam (limitation is one dose per treatment episode)
- meloxicam
- mepivacaine
- methoxyflurane
- methylprednisolone
- metronidazole
- mometasone furoate
- mupirocin
- naproxen
- prilocaine
- procaine
- promethazine
- ropivacaine
- roxithromycin
- silver sulfadiazine
- sulindac
- temazepam (limitation is one dose per treatment episode)
- terbinafine
- triamcinolone.
Reviewed 11 November 2022