The brand name may be included if it is clinically necessary for the patient, with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQH) publishing a list of medicines where the inclusion of a brand name may be appropriate (here). Note, where the brand name is included, the active ingredient must still appear first. Practitioners should be aware that their prescribing software must be updated so that brand names will not automatically be included in prescriptions.
The following prescriptions are excluded from the active ingredient prescribing method:
- Handwritten prescriptions;
- Paper-based medication charts in the residential aged care sector;
- Non-medicinal items that do not contain active ingredients (e.g. dressings);
- Medicinal items with four or more active ingredients; and
- Other items determined by the Secretary for safety or practicality reasons.
The ACSQH have also published a list of excluded medicinal items, accessible here.
There is a transition period in effect until 31 July 2021, to allow pharmacies who receive non-compliant prescriptions to request a re-issue. Where a re-issue is not possible, the prescription may still be supplied and claimed under the PBS or RPBS. After 1 August 2021, new prescriptions that are non-compliant cannot be dispensed and must be re-issued or dispensed as private prescriptions.
For more information, see the Active ingredient prescribing: User guide for Australian prescribers by the ACSQH.
