Key messages
- Under Victorian legislation, a medical practitioner is someone who is registered as a medical practitioner in Australia.
- Regardless of where the patient resides, medical practitioners must comply with Victorian legislation when issuing prescriptions in Victoria.
Medical practitioner – definition
Since 1 July 2010, a registered medical practitioner is defined as a medical practitioner who is registered under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
This means that prescriptions for Schedule 8 medicines from medical practitioners in other states may be dispensed at pharmacies in Victoria.
Details of registered health practitioners can be located at the AHPRA website.
Prescriptions issued in Victoria to be dispensed elsewhere
Medical practitioners in Victoria must still fulfill all Victorian legislative requirements when prescribing Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 medicines for patients who are likely to have prescriptions dispensed in another state or territory.
This includes the regulatory requirements to take all reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of a patient and to ensure there is a therapeutic need for the medicine, as well as all requirements pertaining to permits (for Schedule 8 medicines) and warrants (for ovulatory stimulants and other relevant drugs) in Victoria.
Pharmacotherapy prescribers
Pharmacotherapy prescribers in Victoria should also note that pharmacies in some other states or territories will not be able to act on prescriptions unless the administration of pharmacotherapy to a specific patient has been authorised in that jurisdiction.
Reviewed 01 November 2024
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Postal address: Medicines and Poisons Regulation Department of Health GPO Box 4057 Melbourne VIC 3001
Medicines and Poisons Regulation Department of Health