Pharmacy Technician

The scope of practice of Pharmacy Support Personnel is defined in Chapter V of the Regulations relating to the practice of pharmacy as follows:

Regulation 13A 

Pharmacy technician. — A pharmacy technician registered in the category pharmacy technician may provide or perform the following services or acts under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist in a pharmacy:

1. assist with the compounding, manipulation, or preparation of a non-sterile or sterile Schedule 1 to Schedule 6 medicine or scheduled substance, in accordance with the Medicines Act;
2. assist with the manufacturing of a non-sterile or sterile medicine or scheduled substance, including the start-up line clearance and opening of the line in accordance with standard operating procedures: Provided that the pharmacist has provided the necessary signed authorisation;
3. the packaging and re-packaging of medicine or scheduled substances, including the start-up line clearance and opening the packaging line in accordance with standard operating procedures: Provided that the pharmacist has provided the necessary signed authorisation;
4. the sampling, or supervision of the sampling of medicines or scheduled substances in accordance with good manufacturing practice as determined in terms of the Medicines Act;
5. the checking of orders containing medicine and scheduled substances up to and including Schedule 6 in closed packs, prior to dispatch thereof, which have been picked by a pharmacist’s assistant: Provided that this function may only be performed in a manufacturing pharmacy, wholesale pharmacy or an institutional pharmacy;
6. the distribution and management of stock of Schedule 1 to Schedule 6 medicine or scheduled substances;
7. the ordering and receipt of a Schedule 6 medicine or scheduled substance: Provided that orders that contain a Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 medicine or scheduled substance are validated by a pharmacist;
8. the sale of a Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 medicine or scheduled substance without the prescription of an authorised prescriber: Provided that the supply of a Schedule 2 medicine or scheduled substance takes place in consultation with a pharmacist;
9. the dispensing of Schedule 1 to Schedule 6 medicine or scheduled substances (i.e. the selection, manipulation or compounding of the medicine, the labelling and packing of the medicine in an appropriate container) on the prescription of an authorised prescriber: Provided that the pharmacist interprets and evaluates the prescription;
10. the provision of information to a patient, caregiver or the agent of a patient regarding the correct use of the medicine to optimise therapeutic outcomes;
11. general housekeeping and administrative tasks;
12. supervision of other pharmacist’s assistants, as specified by the responsible pharmacist; and
13. the provision of technical support in the provision of screening tests: Provided that where an interpretation of results is required, this is done by a pharmacist.

Regulation 13B

A pharmacy technician may provide or perform the following services or acts under the indirect personal supervision of a pharmacist:

1. the ordering of medicines and scheduled substances up to and including Schedule 6: Provided that orders that contain Schedule 6 are validated by a pharmacist;
2. the receipt and management of stock of Schedule 1 to Schedule 6 medicines or scheduled substances: Provided that orders received that contain Schedule 6 are validated by a pharmacist;
3. the receiving and screening of prescriptions for medicine which appear on the Essential Medicines List for primary health care or applicable formulary, and which is prescribed in accordance with Standard Treatment Guidelines;
4. the selection, manipulation or compounding of medicine prescribed and the labelling and packing of the medicine in an appropriate container;
5. the provision of information to a patient, caregiver or the agent of a patient about medicine dispensed;
6. the provision of information to a patient, caregiver or the agent of a patient about medicines which have been dispensed at a pharmacy and sent to the primary health care clinic or other facility as approved by the council for supply to the patient or the patient’s agent or caregiver;
7. the management of a dispensary or medicine room in a primary health care clinic in accordance with rules relating to good pharmacy practice published in terms of section 35A of the Act; and
8. general housekeeping and administrative tasks.