01 / Legal · South Africa
Prescription (Rx)
A practitioner’s written authorisation to supply a scheduled medicine.
02 / Definition
What is Prescription (Rx)?
A prescription (often abbreviated Rx) is a written authorisation from a registered healthcare practitioner for a patient to receive a specific scheduled medicine. For scheduled cannabis products in South Africa, a valid prescription is required, and unregistered products additionally need SAHPRA Section 21 approval. Low-dose CBD sold under the Schedule 0 carve-out is an exception that does not need a prescription.
03 / Related terms
See also
Schedule 6
The high-control medicines schedule that covers most THC-containing cannabis.
Section 21
SAHPRA’s authorisation pathway to access unregistered medicines.
Medical cannabis
Cannabis accessed through a regulated, prescription-based clinical pathway.
HPCSA
The Health Professions Council of South Africa, which regulates practitioners.