Dispensing fee for persons licensed to dispense in terms of Section 22C of the Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965)
Dispensing fee as published on 26 September 2025

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 sixty rand (R160.00), 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 sixty rand (R160.00), the dispensing fee must not exceed forty-eight rand (R48.00) in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.

In March 2020 the 30% was calculated on an SEP of less than R128.00 and an SEP of equal or greater than R128.00 earned a R38.40 fee. In five years the dispensing fee increased with R32.00 (25%) on the first tier and from R38.40 to R48.00 on the second tier; equal to a 25% increase.

Pharmacy dispensing fee

• Where the single exit price of a medicine or scheduled substance is less than one hundred and fifty-nine rand (R159.00), the dispensing fee shall not exceed R23.13 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 fifty-nine rand and two cents (R159.02), but less than four hundred and twenty-three rand and fifty-five cents (R423.55) the dispensing fee shall not exceed R42.91 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 four hundred and twenty-three and fifty-five cents (R423.55), but less than one-thousand five hundred and thirty rand and seventy-two cents (R1530.72 the dispensing fee shall not exceed R112.59 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 five-hundred and thirty rand and seventy-three cents (R1 530.73, the dispensing fee shall not exceed R270.54 plus 5% of the single exit price in respect of that medicine or scheduled substance.