Prescription Fulfilment Policy

Updated: 2026-10-25 05:22 SAST
Prescriptions Prescription-only Schedule 6 Payments Follow-up Requests

1. Terms & Conditions

These terms apply to all patients requesting prescription services through 4FR Health. By submitting a request, you confirm that you understand and accept the following.

Effective date: 22 September 2026 .
Prescription-only service: 4FR Health does not dispense take-home medication and does not operate a patient dispensary. Where medication is clinically indicated, 4FR Health issues a prescription for fulfilment by an external pharmacy of the patient’s choice. Medication costs are charged by the dispensing pharmacy and are not included in 4FR Health’s prescription fee.

2. Eligibility

Repeat prescriptions are available to established patients (prior consultation and active medical records).

3. Clinical Review & Discretion

All prescription requests remain subject to clinical review, which may include:

  • Chronic medicine management protocols.
  • Medical-aid scheme rules.
  • The doctor’s clinical discretion.

4. Follow-up Prescription & Medication Requests

Patients are encouraged to discuss all medication and prescription requirements during the consultation itself. This allows the doctor to assess the request safely, document it correctly, and avoid unnecessary follow-up administration.

The following requests may be billed separately:

  • Additional medication added to an existing prescription after the conclusion of the original consultation.
  • Prescriptions requested after the conclusion of a consultation, where the medication was not discussed during the consultation.
Reason: These requests still require clinical review, administrative processing, and appropriate record keeping before they can be approved, declined, or issued.

5. Schedule 6 Medicines – Legal Compliance

Schedule 6 medicines are regulated under South African law and are subject to strict statutory and professional controls. Prescribing and issuing prescriptions for these medicines require heightened clinical oversight, identity verification, and compliance with the Medicines and Related Substances Act and applicable regulations.

4FR Health does not dispense Schedule 6 medicines. Where a Schedule 6 prescription is issued, the medicine must be obtained from an appropriately authorised pharmacy in accordance with applicable law.

Requests may be declined even where a patient has previously been prescribed the same medicine.

  • The original signed prescription must be collected in person at 4FR Health (ID required).
  • No digital delivery (email, fax, WhatsApp) of Schedule 6 prescriptions.
  • Prescriptions are typically valid for 30 days; no pre-/post-dating is permitted.
  • Certain medicines may require six-monthly reassessment as part of safe prescribing.
  • Copies are retained in your patient file where required.
Note: Schedule 6 requests may require additional verification and time.

Nothing in this policy obliges a practitioner to issue a prescription, and all requests remain subject to clinical judgment, legal requirements, and patient safety considerations.

6. Fees

  • Prescription document: R180.00 (Card/EFT) or R150.00 (Cash).
  • Follow-up prescription or medication requests: may be billed separately where clinical review, administrative processing, or record keeping is required after the conclusion of the consultation.
  • Medication costs: medicines are supplied and charged by the external pharmacy that dispenses the prescription; medication costs are not included in 4FR Health’s prescription fee.

7. Turnaround & Payment

  • Allow up to 72 hours for processing.
  • Payment is due before the prescription is released.
  • Where legally permitted, prescriptions may be collected in person or sent electronically to the patient or nominated pharmacy.
  • Schedule 6 prescriptions are handled in accordance with section 5 above.
  • Prescriptions (including electronic prescriptions) are only released once proof of payment has been received.

8. Compliance Enquiries

For compliance enquiries, contact: compliance@4fr.co.za