The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7342 p350
26 March 2005

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

Age-exemption rules relaxed

From 1 April patients who are exempt from prescription charges on age grounds and whose age or date of birth is computer generated on a paper prescription form or appears on an electronic prescription message will no longer be required to sign the declaration on the prescription form to claim exemption.

Previously, age-exempt patients were legally required to sign prescriptions on which their date of birth was printed by computer but, if it were not, the Prescription Pricing Authority would treat the prescription as if the patient had signed it. Patients claiming exemption on age grounds, but whose date of birth or age is handwritten, will have to continue to make a signed declaration.