| (1) | Every order for a medicine or scheduled substance shall be— |
| (a) | written in legible print; |
| (b) | hand or typewritten; or |
| (c) | prepared with an electronic agent as defined by and in compliance with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 (Act No. 25 of 2002). |
| (2) | An order for a medicine or scheduled substance shall be signed— |
| (b) | in the case of an order prepared in accordance with subregulation (1)(c), with an advanced electronic signature as per the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, (Act No. 25 of 2002), |
by the pharmacist, pharmacist's assistant practising in accordance with the scope of practice prescribed in terms of the Pharmacy Act or authorised prescriber placing the order.
| (3) | An order for a medicine or scheduled substance shall at least state the following: |
| (a) | The name, qualification registration number with a statutory health council and signature of an authorised person placing the order; |
| (b) | the date of issue of the order; |
| (c) | the approved name or the proprietary name of the medicine or scheduled substance; |
| (e) | the strength of the dosage form and the quantity of the medicine to be supplied: Provided that, in the case of Schedule 6 substances— |
| (i) | the quantity to be supplied shall be expressed in figures, as well as in words; and |
| (ii) | where the authorised person placing the order has failed to express the quantity in figures as well as in words, the pharmacist receiving the order, may after obtaining confirmation from the authorised person placing the order, insert the words or figures that have been omitted. |
| (4) | In the case of all orders, the pharmacist shall verify the authenticity of the order. |
| (5) | In the event of an order transmitted electronically by means other than an electronic agent in terms of subregulation (1), by fax or communicated verbally, a permanent copy of the order shall be made for record purposes and shall be followed by the signed order as per subregulation (2) within 7 working days from the original transmission or communication. |
