S.L. 31.18 Art. 13Notification by prescriber and managing apothecary in the case of certain drugs. 

(1) No medical practitioner may issue a prescription for any preparation consisting of or containing cathine, fenetylline, flunitrazepam, mecloqualone, methaqualone, or phenmetrazine, or any salts or esters of any such drugs, or for any preparation consisting of secobarbital or amobarbital or of a combination of secobarbital and amobarbital, in either case in tablet or capsule form, or in sachet or cachet, or of any salts or esters thereof in such presentation, unless he has the prior authorisation in writing by the Superintendent.

(2) The Superintendent may, before granting any authorisation as is referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, request from the medical practitioner such information as the Superintendent may require, including whether according to the opinion of the medical practitioner the patient is suffering from drug dependency.

(3) When a request for such authorisation is made, the Superintendent shall submit such request to a panel of medical specialists who shall advise the Superintendent as to whether such request is to be authorised or not.

(4) Before making their recommendations it shall be the duty of the panel to see whether such prescribing is indicated and the panel shall also, where indicated, make such recommendations as may be necessary with a view to weaning of patient from such drug.

(5) The Superintendent may, if he considers it is in the interest of the patient, authorise the prescription of such drug until the report of the panel is received.

(6) It shall be the duty of any medical practitioner who delivers a prescription as is referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation to inform accordingly the Superintendent within twenty-four hours of his prescribing such a preparation, giving the details as set out in the Fourth Schedule to these Regulations.

(7) It shall be the duty of any apothecary dispensing a prescription as is referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation to inform the Superintendent accordingly within twenty-four hours of his dispensing such a preparation, giving the details as set out in the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations.

(8) All notifications made in compliance with sub-regulations

(6) and (7) of this regulation shall be marked "Confidential".

(9) No veterinary surgeon, dental surgeon or dentist may prescribe any preparation as is referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation.

(10) If the President of the Republic has reason to suspect that a medical practitioner, or a dental surgeon or dentist, is supplying or prescribing any specified drug to or for either himself or any other person other than, or more than, is properly required for medical or dental treatment of himself or that other person, as the case may be, or that a veterinary surgeon is supplying or prescribing any specified drug in respect of an animal under his care other than, or more than, is properly required for the treatment of such animal, as the case may be, the President may refer the matter to the Medical Council, and, if the Council so recommends, the President may prohibit the said medical practitioner, dental surgeon or dentist, or veterinary surgeon, from supplying, prescribing, procuring or possessing such drug, for such period as the President may deem fit, and it shall then be unlawful for that medical practitioner, dental surgeon or dentist, or veterinary surgeon to supply, prescribe, procure or possess any such drug during such period: Provided that the said President may, at any time, modify or withdraw any such prohibition.

(11) Notice of any prohibition, modification or withdrawal of any prohibition as is referred to in sub-regulation (10) of this regulation shall be given in writing to the person affected thereby.

(12) It shall be lawful for the Superintendent to circulate to -

(a) all medical practitioners the name, and other details as are shown in the Sixth Schedule to these Regulations, of any person in respect of whom any preparation as is referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation has been prescribed; and

(b) all medical practitioners, dental surgeons and dentists the name, and other details as are shown in the Sixth Schedule to these Regulations, of any person in respect of whom any specified drug has been prescribed or dispensed.