Introduction
The Minister of Health has, in terms of section 22A(2) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965), on the recommendation of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), made and updated the Schedules as per Government Notice R.220 (Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965: Schedules) in, Government Gazette 43051, 28 February 2020.
The following is the list of new approved scheduled drugs for optometrists:
Schedule 1
SYMPATHOMIMETIC
Substance: Phenylephrine
Indication: Minor ocular irritation
Route of Administration: Topical (Drops)
Schedule 3
BETA -BLOCKER
Substance : Betaxolol
Indication : Open -Angle Glaucoma in Adults
Route of Administration Topical Application (Drops)
SYMPATHOMIMETIC
Substance: Brimonidine
Indication Open -Angle Glaucoma in Adults
Route of Administration :Topical Application (Drops)
BETA- BLOCKER
Substance: Levobunolol
Indication Open -Angle Glaucoma in Adults
Route of Administration : Topical Application (Drops)
Schedule 4
ANTIBACTERIAL
Substance: Tetracycline
Indication: Trachoma
Route of Administration: Oral
ANTIBACTERIAL
Substance: Doxycycline
Indication :Trachoma
Route of Administration : Oral
ANTIBACTERIAL
Substance : Azithromycin
Indication : Trachoma
Route of Administration: Oral
OPTOMETRIST (Bachelors degree in Optometry – B OPTOM) registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974) and [in possession of a Section 22A(15) permit as provided for by the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act 101 of 1965)[ recognised by the HPCSA as an authorised prescriber.
Table 1. Schedule of approved pharmaceutical agents for Optometrists.
(P Ramkissoon, 2020)
| SCHEDULE 0 | |
|---|---|
| ANALGESIC | |
| Substance | Paracetamol |
| Indication | Mild Pain |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| SCHEDULE 1 | |
| ANALGESIC/ANTI-INFLAMMATORY | |
| Substance | Ibuprofen |
| Indication | Mild to Moderate pain |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| SYMPATHOMIMETIC | |
| Substance | Phenylephrine |
| Indication | Minor ocular irritation |
| Route of administration | Topical (Drops) |
| SCHEDULE 2 | |
| ANTIBACTERIAL | |
| Substance | Mupirocin |
| Indication | Impetigo(Eyelids),External Hordeolum, Infected atopic dermatitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIHISTAMINE/VASOCONSTRICTOR/MAST CELL STABILISER | |
| Substance | Antazoline |
| Indication | Allergic and Atopic Conjunctivitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIHISTAMINE/VASOCONSTRICTOR/MAST CELL STABILISER | |
| Substance | Tetrazoline |
| Indication | Minor ocular irritation, red eye |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIHISTAMINE/VASOCONSTRICTOR/MAST CELL STABILISER | |
| Substance | Oxymetazoline |
| Indication | Minor ocular irritation, red eye |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIHISTAMINE/VASOCONSTRICTOR/MAST CELL STABILISER | |
| Substance | Cetrizine, Loratidine, Levocetirizine |
| Indication | Atopic dermatitis involving the eyelids |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| ANTIHISTAMINE/VASOCONSTRICTOR/MAST CELL STABILISER | |
| Substance | Sodium Cromoglycate |
| Indication | Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY | |
| Substance | Hydrocortisone |
| Indication | Dermatitis, Ectopic or Seborrhoeic Eczema |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| SCHEDULE 3 | |
| CYCLOPLEGICS | |
| Substance | Atropine |
| Indication | Cycloplegic refraction, Treatment of Uveitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| MYDRIATICS/CYCLOPLEGICS | |
| Substance | Tropicamide |
| Indication | Cycloplegic, Mydriatic |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| MYDRIATICS/CYCLOPLEGICS | |
| Substance | Cyclopentolate |
| Indication | Cycloplegic, Mydriatic |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| MYDRIATICS/CYCLOPLEGICS | |
| Substance | Homatropine |
| Indication | Cycloplegic, Mydriatic |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| ANTI-GLAUCOMA | |
| Substance | Pilocarpine |
| Indication | Acute Glaucoma |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| ANTI-GLAUCOMA | |
| Substance | Timolol |
| Indication | Acute Glaucoma |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| BETA BLOCKER | |
| Substance | Betaxolol |
| Indication | Open -Angle Glaucoma in Adults |
| Route of administration | Topical Application (Drops) |
| SYMPATHOMIMETIC | |
| Substance | Brimonidine |
| Indication | Open -Angle Glaucoma in Adults |
| Route of administration | Topical Application (Drops) |
| BETA-BLOCKER | |
| Substance | Levobunolol |
| Indication | Open-Angle Glaucoma in Adults |
| Route of administration | Topical Application (Drops) |
| SCHEDULE 4 | |
| ANTIBACTERIAL | |
| Substance | Chloramphenicol |
| Indication | Bacterial conjunctivitis, Anterior blepharitis,Posterior blepharitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIBACTERIAL | |
| Substance | Tetracycline |
| Indication | Chlamydial conjunctivitis, Blepharitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| ANTIBACTERIAL | |
| Substance | Erythromycin |
| Indication | Chlamydial conjunctivitis, Blepharitis, Impetigo (Not to be used as 1st line of treatment) |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| Substance | Tetracycline |
| Indication | Trachoma |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| Substance | Doxycycline |
| Indication | Trachoma |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| Substance | Azithromycin |
| Indication | Trachoma |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| ANTIVIRAL | |
| Substance | Acyclovir |
| Indication | Conjunctivitis, Herpes simplex blepharitis, Epithelial keratitis |
| Route of administration | Topical application |
| LOCAL ANAESTHETIC | |
| Substance | Tetracaine |
| Indication | Diagnostic aid |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
| LOCAL ANAESTHETIC | |
| Substance | Oxybuprocaine and other equivalent LAs |
| Indication | Diagnostic aid |
| Route of administration | Topical application (drops) |
These Schedules as amended has come into operation on the date of publication in the Government Gazette (28/02/2020). The South African Optometric Association (SAOA) has requested the Practice Code Numbering System (PCNS), a division of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) to ringfence practitioners who have Ocular Therapeutics recognition and appear on the HPCSA register by allocating an intelligent code within the existing practice numbering system to facilitate the payment of claims by medical schemes for professional services rendered.
Reference
1. Government Notice R.220 (Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965: Schedules) in, Government Gazette