Statistics Act, 1999
R 385
Pharmacy Act, 1974 (Act No. 53 of 1974)Board NoticesRules Relating to the Services for which a Pharmacist may Levy a Fee and Guidelines for Levying such a Fee or FeesAnnexure A : Guidelines for Levying a Fee or Fees |
General guidelines governing the determination of a fee or fees
| 1) | Nature of services provided |
A pharmacist may, in charging a fee for professional services rendered by him/her take into account one or more of the following factors -
| a) | the nature of the professional service rendered; |
| b) | the time of day and circumstances under which the service is rendered. |
| 2) | Call out service, delivery of medicines and after-hour fees |
| a) | Where a pharmacist is called out from his/her pharmacy, or the pharmacy in which he/she practises, or from his or her residence or other place where he or she may be, a fee including the travelling time and costs according the South African Revenue Services (SARS) travelling reimbursement table as published from time to time, may be charged. |
| b) | Where a pharmacist is required to deliver a service after normal operating hours, an after-hours fee may be charged. The recommended fee is one and a half times the normal fee for a specific procedure code. |
| c) | Where a pharmacist is required to transport a medicine to an address requested by the patient or his or her caregiver, the transport costs according to the South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) travelling reimbursement table as published from time to time may be charged. |
| d) | Where a pharmacist is claiming reimbursement for expenses incurred, details of such expenses must be individually itemised. |
| 3) | Collaboration with other health care professionals |
Services may be provided in collaboration with a registered nurse or other registered health care professional as agreed to by the Council and the applicable statutory health councils.
A pharmacist's guide to fees
| 4) | Procedures |
| 4.1 | Services for which a fee or fees may be levied shall be divided into procedures as indicated in Annexure B. A separate fee shall be charged for each procedure. |
| 4.2 | The fee per procedure shall be based on a procedure code as listed in Annexure B. |
| 4.3 | The fee for after-hours and/or call-out services must be levied separately as per clause 2 using the designated procedure codes as listed in Annexure B. |
| 4.4 | The fees will be reviewed on an annual basis. |
| 4.5 | All expenses claimed must be indicated separately. |
| 5) | Pharmacy support personnel |
The fee or fees may be levied by a pharmacist whether the service concerned is provided by the pharmacist, any other person registered in terms of the Pharmacy Act or a healthcare professional employed in the pharmacy. Provided that a pharmacist's assistant may only be utilised to provide a service or perform an act falling within his or her scope of practice.
| 6) | Chronic Medicines Authorisation |
A fee may be levied by a pharmacist where he/she needs to liaise with a medical scheme, pharmaceutical benefit management organisation and/or medical practitioner to initiate or renew a chronic medicine authorisation or update a chronic medicine authorisation.
| 7) | Guidelines for professional services where one or more service is provided |
The following examples are provided as guidelines:
The table which follows can be found in Government Gazette No. 32278 dated 28 May 2009.
