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1. Treatment of UTIs
2. Applications for authority to supply and prescribe some Schedule 8 medicines can now be made using SafeScript NSW    
3. Serious scarcity medicine substitution
4. Free take home naloxone - Australian Government pilot program
   
5. Electronic National Residential Medication Chart trials

Treatment of UTIs

Trained pharmacists in NSW with suitable facilities and training can provide select antibiotics to people with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Specific eligibility criteria are in place to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care. For treatment of UTIs, patients must be:

• female
• aged between 18 to 65 years (inclusive), and
• displaying symptoms consistent with an uncomplicated UTI, such as burning or stinging pain when you urinate, and frequent need to urinate.

For more information, visit our information for pharmacists page.

Applications for authority to supply and prescribe some Schedule 8 medicines can now be made using SafeScript NSW

Safescript NSW can be used to apply for and manage approvals to prescribe or supply Schedule 8:

• methadone and buprenorphine under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program 
• psychostimulant medicines
  
• medicines for pain management​
  
• ​benzodiazepines (alprazolam and flunitrazepam)​
  
• ketamine and esketamine for treatment resistant depression.

For more information see SafeScript NSW.​

Serious scarcity medicine substitution

In some circumstances it is legal for a retail pharmacist to substitute different strengths or formulations of a prescribed medicine, without contacting the prescriber.

Where there is a Serious Scarcity Substitution Notice on the TGA, substitution is permitted if it is appropriate and the patient consents. The notice will specify which products may be substituted and the specific circumstances it may be substituted.

Under Part 4A of the NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966, pharmacists must comply with all provisions of the relevant Commonwealth Serious Scarcity and Substitutable Medicine Instrument.

For information on subsidy under the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, visit the PBS.

Free take home naloxone - Australian Government pilot program

NSW is participating in the Australian Government take home naloxone pilot which supplies take home naloxone free of charge to people who may experience, or witness, an opioid overdose.

Nyxoid® nasal spray and Prenoxad® pre-filled syringe are available for free without a prescription at:

• ​participating NSW community pharmacies listed on Your Room and
• ​NSW public health clinics from credentialed health workers under the NSW Health Policy Directive Take Home Naloxone (PD2020_027​).

Outside of the pilot, naloxone is also available on a doctor's prescription or over the counter from a community pharmacist.

Approval for use of an Electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC)

The Commonwealth PBS transitional arrangements for use of an electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC) is under the National Health (Electronic National Residential Medication Chart Trial) Special Arrangement 2018.

Under legal instruments issued under the NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 a prescription may be issued for a person receiving residential care using an eNRMC:

a) At an approved residential care service specified in the Schedule to the Special Arrangement, or
b) Listed on the Transitional eNRMC Conformance Register maintained by the Australian Digital Health Agency.

Medication chart orders on the eNRMC satisfy as a form of prescription for pharmacist dispensing and also direct administration by RCF staff.

This applies to all medicines prescribed for RCF residents (that is, PBS and non-PBS).

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