The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) has welcomed the introduction of professional service fees that may be levied by pharmacists.
The new fees, which took effect on Friday last week, mean pharmacists may now charge up to R60 for their ”time and skill” in preparing certain products, and as much as R24 for a ”consultation” with a customer enquiring, for example, about treatment for a cough.
The PSSA — which lists as one of its aims the promotion of the professional, educational and economic interests of its members — said in a statement on Monday the new service fees are independent of the recently introduced dispensing fee.
It said if pharmacists charge the new fee, ”they must be itemised, clearly indicated and transparent”.
”It is anticipated that the [South African] Pharmacy Council will liaise with the Council for Medical Schemes to code the fees for services.
”In order for medical aids to pay for these services, the benefits must be listed on the national reference price list, and the medical schemes must recognise them as benefits to be reimbursed.
”Until agreement has been reached with the medical schemes, consumers will need to pay for these services themselves,” the PSSA said.
The consumer will pay only for ”services received”.
”The fee may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, as the published fee is a recommended maximum fee.”
Pharmacists had not charged for these services in the past, as they were traditionally covered by the mark-up on medicines.
However, now that ”transparency has been introduced into the pricing of medicines”, it is time to recognise the professional role of pharmacists, and to remunerate them accordingly.
The PSSA also listed ”scenarios” when a service fee will be liable.
One of these describes a pharmacist making up a prescription for nappy cream, and says he or she ”may charge up to R60 for the time and skill involved in preparing the cream”.
In addition, a R6 fee for control and record-keeping may be charged, and R6 for claiming from a medical aid, if this is appropriate.
In another scenario, a customer enters a pharmacy and asks the pharmacist for advice about a cough.
”The pharmacist questions the consumer, and recommends a product. The pharmacist may charge a maximum of R12 for the consultation, plus the price of the product, the fee for control and record-keeping, and, where appropriate, the fee for submission to the medical aid.
”The maximum amount, over and above the price of the product, would therefore be R24,” the PSSA said. — Sapa