On this page:
- Schedule 8 Substances
- Information Pack for Pharmacists
- The Poisons Control S8 Website
- S8 File Upload
- Fact Sheets for Pharmacists
- Storage and Transport
Schedule 8 Substances
The Schedule 8 and Restricted Schedule 4 Clinical Practice Guidelines 2nd edition published in the government Gazette on 30 April 2008. The prescribing and supply of Schedule 8 substances must conform with these Guidelines as required under section 31X of the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act.
| Document Title | Description |
|---|---|
| S8 and Restricted S4 Substances | Policy and Clinical Practice Guidelines |
| Exemptions to S8 Guidelines January 2009 | Exemptions |
Information Pack for Pharmacists
This information pack has been compiled to provide you with some background on pharmacy related legal references and requirements.
For further information, please contact the poisons inspectors on (08) 8922 7341 or the Pharmacy Board on (08) 8999 2865.
Download information pack components:
| Document Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Information Letter | Summary letter |
| Voluntary Contract Notification Scheme | Details of scheme |
| Voluntary Contract for Patients Prescribed Medication - General form | General contract form |
| Drug Loss or Discrepancy Letter | Information letter for drug loss |
| Drug Loss Discrepancy Report Form | Report form for drug loss |
| Summary of Requirements for Prescriptions for Schedule 8 Substances (S8s) | S8 prescription details |
Information Letter | |
| Letter from CHO to pharmacists about psychostimulant validity change | Letter |
| Letter from CHO to pharmacists about S3 supply of pseudoephedrine | Letter |
| Poisons Control S8 Website Introduction Letter | Letter |
| Mandatory details to be recorded for S3 supply of pseudoephedrine | Legislative instrument |
| Summary of requirements for pharmacists | Information sheet No. 300.1 |
The Poisons Control S8 Website
The website enables pharmacists to:
- access the weekly updated Schedule 8 Contract List and
- upload Schedule 8 reports (S8 Files) to Poisons Control
Contract List
The S8 website enables pharmacists to access the weekly updated Contract List. The list combines both Top End and Alice Springs contracts and details the patients, contracting doctors and pharmacies.
If any of these patients present at your pharmacy with prescriptions for narcotics or benzodiazepines (flunitrazepam, temazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, etc) from other prescribers, you are strongly advised to refer them back to their contracted doctor after notifying the other prescriber.
Please notify Poisons Control if there are any changes that need to be made to the contract list. We rely on general practitioners and community pharmacists for the accuracy of the contract list.
S8 File Upload
It is hoped that all pharmacies will voluntarily participate in using the Poisons Control S8 Website to upload S8 Files to allow for more timely receipt of this information.
Irrespective of whether or not your pharmacy uploads S8 Files, section 36(3) of the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act still requires a pharmacist to forward to the Chief Health Officer delegate (Chief Poisons Inspector) cancelled prescriptions or copies of the authority on which the supply occurs within 7 days of supply.
Fact Sheets for Pharmacists
| Document Title | Published | No. |
|---|---|---|
| Guide to Downloading Contract List | Oct 2011 | 300.2 |
| Guide to S8 File Upload | Oct 2011 | 300.3 |
| Hints on using S8 Website for Pharmacists | Oct 2011 | 300.4 |
| LOTS guide to Generating S8 Report | Oct 2011 | 300.5 |
| Minfos guide to Generating S8 Report | Oct 2011 | 300.6 |
| FRED Guide to Generating S8 Reports | Oct 2011 | 300.7 |
| FAQ for Pharmacists | Jan 2012 | 300.8 |
| Pharmacist Miscellaneous | Jan 2012 | 300.9 |
| FRED and WINIFRED Guide To Saving S8 Report onto C: Drive | Oct 2011 | 300.10 |
| Explanation Of Key Tasks - Pharmacy Specific | Jan 2012 | 323 |
Access the Poisons Control S8 Website
Storage and Transport
Businesses, organisations and health professionals producing/supplying Schedule 8 (Controlled Drugs) need to comply with the following code of practice:
