You will need approval from the Chief Health Officer to prescribe a controlled medicine when:
- a person is drug dependent
- a person has been prescribed controlled medicines within the previous 2 months
- the person is expected to require treatment for longer than 2 months.
You can seek approval by either:
- Category approval: Authorises the prescribing of a medicine or medicines within a therapeutic class up to a maximum dose to treat a certain condition. You can request a category approval where eligibility is met as outlined in the Controlled Medicines Prescribing Standards.
- Approval by drug: Authorises the prescribing of a particular dose, form, strength and quantity of a medicine for a person’s medical condition. You can request this if preferred, or when the treatment doesn't meet the requirements of a category approval.
