Schedule 0 (S0) medicines in South Africa
Sold anywhere, no pharmacist needed.
About S0 Drugs
Where S0 sits on the scale
Sold anywhere, no pharmacist needed.
This is the least restricted tier of medicine. You can buy it in an ordinary shop such as a supermarket or petrol station, and no pharmacist needs to be involved in the sale. It may also be advertised to the public, subject to the general advertising rules that apply to all medicines; the label must still carry the schedule mark like every other tier.
Who may supply
Anyone. It may be sold in an ordinary shop, not only in a pharmacy.
Cited: Act s22A(3)
Advertising: May be advertised to the public.
Cited: reg 42(1) (General Regulations, 2017)
Labelling: Must show the letter S and the number 0 in a square border, immediately before the product's brand name, the same as every other schedule tier: Schedule 0 is itself one of the Schedules made under the Act, not an exemption from them.
Cited: reg 10(1)(a) (General Regulations, 2017)
Also relevant: reg 42(4) (advertising content restrictions), reg 44(4) (destruction of unwanted medicine)
What is a Schedule 0 medicine in South Africa?
Sold anywhere, no pharmacist needed. This is the least restricted tier of medicine. You can buy it in an ordinary shop such as a supermarket or petrol station, and no pharmacist needs to be involved in the sale. It may also be advertised to the public, subject to the general advertising rules that apply to all medicines; the label must still carry the schedule mark like every other tier.
Can a pharmacist sell a Schedule 0 medicine without a prescription?
No prescription is needed. Anyone. It may be sold in an ordinary shop, not only in a pharmacy.
This is an informational summary of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 and its 2017 General Regulations. It is not medical advice and not legal advice. Always check the medicine's label, which carries the schedule number inside a square border, or ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
Substances listed under S0
Schedule 0 has no list of its own: a substance is Schedule 0 when the Consolidated Schedules exempt it from a higher schedule, for a given strength, pack or use.
Registered medicines in S0
| Name | Brands | Dosages | Applicants | Registrations | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol | Throatsil blackcurrant, Zeptaloz blackcurrant, Throatsil honey lemon, +5 more | 0,6 mg & 1,2 mg | 2 applicants | 8 registrations | S0 |
| Ammonium chloride Cancelled | Stearns cough | 100mg / 5ml | Adcock ingram limited | X0056 | S0 |
| Aspirin | Compral pain, Aspirin unimed | 324 mg, tablets, 300 mg | 2 applicants | 3 registrations | S0 |
| Bisacodyl | Laxador bisacodyl | 10 mg | Pharmacare limited û woodmead | E1559 | S0 |
| Calcium carbonate | Gaviscon double action liquid | 10 ml | Reckitt Benckinser Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd | A400480 | S0 |
| Cetrimide | Cetidine concentrate | 100 mL | B Braun Medical (Pty) Ltd | 290267 | S0 |
| Chlorhexidine | Chlorhexidine gluconate handrub adco | 0,5% w/v | Adcock Ingram Critical Care (Pty) Ltd | 550755 | S0 |
| Citric acid | Citro-soda cranberry, Quatro-soda cranberry | 4 g, 4g | 2 applicants | 2 registrations | S0 |
| Diclofenac | Panamor, K-fenak | 1.16 % m/m, 1,292 g/100 g, 12,5, patch, +4 more | 2 applicants | 9 registrations | S2 |
| Hypromellose | Spersatear | 3 mg | Adcock ingram limited | N0022 | S0 |
| Light kaolin | Pectikon | 30 mL | Gulf Drug Company (Pty) Ltd | E1413 | S0 |
| Light magnesium carbonate | Gr babies stomach | 5 ml | Avid Brands S.A. (Pty) Ltd | E1135 | S0 |
| Macrogol | Movicol chocolate, Forlax | 10g, 13.9g | 2 applicants | 2 registrations | S0 |
| Niclosamide | Yomesan | 500 mg | Bayer (Pty) Ltd û Isando | H0890 | S0 |
| Paracetamol | Zypol, Panado paediatric strawberry, Varipan sugar free, +6 more | 500 mg, syrup, 120 mg/5 ml, caplets, +2 more | 5 applicants | 13 registrations | S0 |
| Povidone-iodine | Septisooth antiseptic, Betadine throat, Betadine antiseptic, +1 more | 1 g, 4,5 mg, solution, 7,5 % w/v, +1 more | 3 applicants | 8 registrations | S0 |
| Saccharomyces boulardii | Inteflora | 250 mg | Pharmacare limited û woodmead | 440783 | S0 |
| Salicylic acid | Carnation corn caps | 36 mg | 2 applicants | 2 registrations | S0 |
| Sodium carbonate | Eno active fruit salt regular | 5.0g | Haleon South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Y0185 | S0 |
| Sorbimacrogol laurate | Exichest | 34 mg/36,33 mg per 10 ml | Pharmacare limited û woodmead | 470752 | S0 |
| Sterculia | Normacol | 6,2 g per 10 g | Norgine (Pty) Ltd | E1974 | S0 |
| Sucralfate | Ulsanic | effervescent tablets, 1g, 1 G, suspension | Pharmacare limited û woodmead | 4 registrations | S0 |