Schedule 1 (S1) medicines in South Africa

What is a Schedule 1 medicine in South Africa?

Sold by a pharmacist, no doctor's prescription needed. Schedule 1 medicines are normally sold by a pharmacist, or by a supervised pharmacist intern or assistant, without a doctor's visit; a veterinarian, or a licensed dispensing doctor, dentist or nurse prescriber, may also supply them. A nurse or other non-doctor prescriber may only prescribe the specific substances the Schedule names for that purpose, and may only dispense them if licensed to do so. A child under 12 may only be sold one of these medicines on a prescription, or on a written order that names the purpose and carries a signature the seller recognises.

Can a pharmacist sell a Schedule 1 medicine without a prescription?

No prescription is needed. A pharmacist, or a supervised pharmacist intern or assistant; manufacturers and wholesalers supplying people who may lawfully possess it; a veterinarian, who may prescribe, compound or dispense it; a medical practitioner or dentist, who may prescribe it, and may compound or dispense it only if licensed under section 22C(1)(a); a nurse or other registered non-doctor prescriber, who may prescribe only the Scheduled substances the Schedule identifies for that purpose, and dispense them if licensed to do so; and, for animal treatment, a person practising a para-veterinary profession, on a veterinarian's written or verbal instruction.