“REPEATS” MEDICINE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21227, 16 October 1943, Page 2

“REPEATS” MEDICINE

RULES FOR CHEMISTS REGULATIONS AMENDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Oct. 16. Amendments to the regulations covering the social security pharrnaceutical benefits were gazetted this week. ' Explaining the regulations, the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, said that they were issued with the object of discouraging chemists from supplying “repeats” called for by a medical prescription at the same time as the original medicine was dispensed. As experience had shown that many “repeats” frequently were not required by the patients, this expensive'' practice was bne ' that ' was' “Most ~ undesirable, especially during the present tliffe, vVihgn' drugs were difficult W Obtain. The amendment : provides ' that “repeats”'may be dispensed at the cost of the social security fund only when it is reasonably assumed that'the medicine previously supplied 'hasbeen exhausted or substantially exhausted. An’ allowance has been made, however, for exceptional cases and'if,’ for instance, ff person resides act a considerable distance from a chemist’s shop and cannot obtain a “repeat” when it is required, 'that •person may still obtain all the medicine ordered on the medical "prescription with the original supply.' It is now an offence Tor a contracting chemist to Cl) require or accept from any person a receiut. that does not disclose the true date on which the iMdicine was supplied; (2) supply any medicine by wav bf “repeat‘ in terms of any medical prescription except in response to a specific request made by or on behalf of the patient; (3) claim payment for medicines he has not supplied in accordance with the regulations, ■or .to furnish any false or misleading document in support of a claim for payment from the fund. Similarly,_ a person who gives a chemist a receipt for medicines he has not received, or gives a receipt that does not disclose :ilhe true date on which the medicine was supplied to him is also liable to a penalty.