Section 2.7.1 of this Chapter provides minimum standards for the dispensing of medicines on the prescription of an authorised prescriber. The following additional minimum standards relate specifically to the dispensing of medicine in institutional pharmacies:
| 2.10.1 |
Individual patient dispensing (IPD) |
| (a) |
In the case of medicines dispensed for individual patients, the pharmacist must be responsible for ensuring that medicines are dispensed in individually labelled containers and are delivered to the ward in time for the next medicine round. |
| (b) |
A suitable lockable trolley for patient's medication must be available. Ideally it should contain sufficient drawers for each patient's medication and a large compartment to accommodate those items too large for the drawers. |
| (c) |
Medicines dispensed to wards, departments, theatres and clinics but not used must be returned to the pharmacy. Procedures must be established to ensure that the inspection of returned medicines, their return to stock (if appropriate) and crediting take place in accordance with local policy. |
| (d) |
The responsible pharmacist must ensure that medicines prescribed outside normal pharmacy hours are made available either by the use of an emergency medicine cupboard or are provided by a pharmacist who is on call. |
| (e) |
The responsible pharmacist must also ensure that an on-call pharmacist is available to provide other services as necessary. |
| (f) |
Policies must be agreed upon, in conjunction with the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at local and/or provincial level as applicable, regarding the quantity of individually dispensed items to be supplied. |
| (g) |
The pharmacist must be responsible for ensuring that medicines dispensed for individual patients are labelled in accordance with regulation 8(4) of the General Regulations published in terms of the Medicines Act and in addition must contain the following minimum detail: |
| (ii) |
the proprietary name, approved name, or the name of each active ingredient of the medicine, where applicable, or constituent medicine; |
| (iii) |
the directions with regard to the manner in which such medicine should be used; |
| (iv) |
number of dose units in container; |
| (v) |
name of patient and hospital number; |
| (vii) |
expiry date and batch number where appropriate; and |
| (viii) |
additional labels, warnings and storage instructions according to local policy. |
| (h) |
The frequency of ward visits should be determined by the needs of patients in individual wards. |
| 2.10.2 |
Emergency medicine trolley |
| (a) |
Emergency trolleys must be equipped with essential medicines and equipment so that medical and nursing personnel can respond immediately should an emergency situation develop in a ward or clinic, e.g. cardiac arrest or anaphylactic shock. |
| (b) |
The responsible pharmacist must implement procedures to ensure adequate control over medicine kept on the emergency trolley(ies). |
| (c) |
Policies must be agreed upon, in conjunction with the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at local and/or provincial level as applicable, specifying those medicines to be included in emergency stocks. |
| (d) |
Procedures must be instituted to review the contents and expiry dates of these trolleys/trays periodically. |
Statistics Act, 1999
