This is the text extract for Close Control extension for Canterbury pharmacies; Contact: Notifications, browse documents here.

FA C S I M I L E

To Fax From Subject Date All New Zealand Pharmacies, IPA Pharmacy Facilitators and Wholesalers Autodial PHARMAC Close Control for all medicines dispensed by pharmacies located in the South Island revoked but retained for Canterbury DHB pharmacies only Wednesday 2 March 2011 No of pages 2

Dear Pharmacist / Wholesaler Our thoughts go out to the people of Christchurch and their families as they continue to deal with this tragic time. From 23 February 2011 PHARMAC’s Chief Executive approved pharmacists in the South Island the right to exercise their clinical judgement and allow medicines to be dispensed Close Control in lots less than 3 months supply without the need for a doctor endorsement. This was to allow pharmacies to supply as many patients as possible following the disruption of services resulting from the Christchurch earthquake. This was extended to all pharmacies in the South Island only. This decision was reviewed and from 3 March 2011 pharmacists located in Canterbury DHB only may continue to dispense all prescriptions, where applicable, Close Control in lots less than 3 months supply without the need for a doctor endorsement. From midnight on 2 March 2011 all other South Island pharmacies will no longer be able to dispense prescriptions Close Control unless endorsed Close Control by the prescriber. PHARMAC’s Chief Executive has approved the following temporary provision for prescriptions for Canterbury DHB only.  From 3 March 2011 until further notice, any prescription dispensed by a community pharmacy located in Canterbury DHB will not require endorsement by the prescriber to be dispensed Close Control.  From 3 March 2011 until further notice, Pharmacists located in Canterbury DHB will be reimbursed all dispensing fees for prescriptions that are dispensed Close Control.  Pharmacists should exercise their clinical judgment when selecting the period of supply to dispense Close Control.  Pharmacists will need to annotate any prescriptions dispensed Close Control for audit purposes. South Island DHB’s excluding Canterbury DHB Please note the remainder of repeats for prescriptions first dispensed Close Control between 23 February 2011 and midnight on 2 March 2011, can either be (at the discretion of the pharmacist and stock availability) o completed Close Control, or

This facsimile message contains information that is confidential and which may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by facsimile or telephone (call us collect) and return the original message to us by mail. Thank you.

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dispensed stat where appropriate.

Instructions on how to amend pharmacy software systems have NOT been provided because of the necessary speed in getting this communication out. Please follow directions of your software vendor.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact PHARMAC on 0800 66 00 50 (9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday). Yours sincerely

Kaye Wilson Schedule Analyst

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