Article by Dana Van Zyl,  Focus on Health Director based on GOVERNMENT GAZETTE No. 43145 & No. 43447

The appropriate dispensing fee as contemplated in Section 22G of the Act to be charged by persons licensed in terms of Section 22C (1) (a) of the Act must be calculated, exclusive of VAT, as follows:

• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is less than one hundred and twenty-eight rand (R128.00), the dispensing fee must not exceed 30% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance;
• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is equal to or greater than one hundred and twenty-eight rand (R128.00), the dispensing fee must not exceed thirty-eight rand and fourty cents (R38.40) in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.

In January 2019 the 30% was calculated on an SEP of less than R124.00 and an SEP of equal or greater than R124.00 earned a R37.20 fee. In little more than one year, the dispensing fee thus increased with 3,23%.

Pharmacy dispensing fee

• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is less than one hundred and thirteen rand and seventy-two cents (R113.72), the dispensing fee shall not exceed R15.95 plus 46% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance;
• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is greater than or equal to one hundred and thirteen rand and seventy-two cents (R113.72) but less than three hundred and three rand and thirty-two cents (R303.32) the dispensing fee shall not exceed R29.07 plus 33% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.
• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is greater than or equal to three hundred and three rand and thirty-two cents (R303.32), but less than one-thousand and sixty-one rand and sixty-two cents (R1061.62) the dispensing fee shall not exceed R82.77 plus 15% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.
• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is greater than or equal to one-thousand and sixty-one rand and sixty-two cents (R1061.62) the dispensing fee shall not exceed R190.68 plus 5% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.