Section 23, The Pharmacy and Drugs Act, 2001

(1) A pharmacist or pharmacy technician, as the case may be, or a body corporate shall not supply a Class A Part 1 or Class B drug, otherwise than under a prescription reasonably believed by the person supplying the drugs to be valid— (a) if the drug is supplied under a signed order to a medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, pharmacist or licensed body corporate for the purpose of being subsequently dispensed or supplied; or (b) if the drug is supplied from the dispensing department of a medical institution approved for the purposes of this section by the Board and is for general use in the wards, operating theatre or other sections of the institution; or (c) if the drug is supplied, in accordance with directions given by a medical practitioner, to an out-patient attending a medical center. (2) A prescription is valid if— (a) it is in indelible writing, is dated and is signed with his usual signature by a medical practitioner, dentist or veterinary surgeon; and (b) it states the name, qualification and address of the person signing it; and (c) it states the name and address of the person for whose treatment it is given or, if signed by a veterinary surgeon, the person to whom the drug is prescribed is to be delivered; and No. 12 Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 17 (d) if signed by a dentist, it bears the words "for dental treatment" or, if signed by a veterinary surgeon, it bears the words "for animal treatment only"; and (e) it indicates the form of the drug to be supplied, and the amount of the drug to be supplied and the dose to be taken; and (f) it has not previously been fully dispensed. (3) A prescription is fully dispensed— (a) where it does not state that it may be dispensed more than once, after the amount of drug prescribed has been supplied once; or (b) where it states that it may be dispensed a certain number of times, after the drug prescribed has been supplied that number of times; or (c) where it states that it may be dispensed at intervals but does not state the number of times, after the drug prescribed has been supplied three times. (4) A Class A Part 1 and Class B drug shall not be supplied a second or subsequent time under a prescription which states that it may be dispensed at unspecified intervals unless the person supplying the drug reasonably believes that a reasonable time has elapsed since the drug was previously supplied under the prescription. [Margin: Action to be taken in relation to prescription]