Schedule 4 (S4) medicines in South Africa

Who may supply

A pharmacist dispensing against a written or verbal prescription from an authorised prescriber; a veterinarian, who may also prescribe, compound or dispense it directly; a medical practitioner or dentist, who may prescribe it and may compound or dispense it directly only if licensed under section 22C(1)(a); manufacturers and wholesalers may supply people who may lawfully possess it; and, for animal treatment, a person practising a para-veterinary profession, on a veterinarian's written or verbal instruction.

Cited: Act s22A(5)(b), s22A(5)(c), s22A(5)(d), s22A(5)(e), s22A(6)(r)

Prescription: Requires a prescription from an authorised prescriber.

Repeats: Can be repeated only if the prescriber indicated a number of repeats on the prescription, and never for more than six months in total; the prescription must also be presented for dispensing within 30 days of issue.

Cited: reg 33(3)(i) (General Regulations, 2017)

Cited: Act s22A(6)(d), s22A(6)(f)

Advertising: May be advertised only to health professionals, not the public.

Cited: reg 42(2), reg 42(3) (General Regulations, 2017)

Labelling: Must show the letter S and the number 4 in a square border, immediately before the product's brand name.

Cited: reg 10(1)(a) (General Regulations, 2017)