This guide provides step-by-step instructions on formatting your custom drug list. The fields in this are applicable to both Organisation Upload and Individual Prescribers.
‼️
Mandatory Fields
All fields are mandatory, except for
Trade Name
Brand Name
Description
Product ID (this can be used to match drugs more easily within your software if integrating)
Different Drug Quantities should be on a different row
Each drug quantity amount must be on it's own row. So if you have pack quantities of 30/60/90, there should be three separate rows of the same drug with different quantities
Formatting
It is important to follow the naming conventions below (see grey boxes for different examples) to ensure your prescription remains legally valid and compliant with Australian prescribing regulations.
Incorrect formatting can lead to errors in dispensing, rejection by pharmacies, or failure to meet legislative requirements.
Adhering to the correct structure ensures clarity, reduces the risk of misinterpretation, and supports seamless integration with prescribing and dispensing systems.
Drug Names
item_generic_name
Mandatory: ✅
The Generic Name is the medicinal product required by law for active ingredient prescribing:
Inclusions
active ingredients
strength of each active ingredient
dosage form
number of doses
Exclusions
Do not include any brand identifiers here
1. atropine sulfate monohydrate 1% eye drops, 15 mL
2. sildenafil 25 mg tablet, 4
3. cannabidiol 10mg + cannabigerol 10mg gummies, 30
4. semaglutide 1.34 mg/mL injection, 1 x 3 mL pen device
item_trade_name
Mandatory: ❌
A drug brand/trade name may also be included, but is not mandatory. This replaces the active ingredients with a brand name:
Inclusions
Brand Name
Strength
Dosage Form
Number of Doses
Exclusions
Replace active ingredients with the brand name
1. Atropt 1% eye drops, 15 mL
2. Viagra 25 mg tablet, 4
3. CannC CBD10 CBG10 Gummies, 30
4. Ozempic 1.34 mg/mL injection, 1 x 3 mL pen device
brand_name
Mandatory: ☑️ (only if item_trade_name included)
The brand name is appended to the prescription and should only include the specific brand of the prescribed drug if applicable. This field is mandatory only if a trade name has been entered. This field is used to append the brand name to a custom script if Prescribe as Brand Name is selected to ensure you are following the active ingredient prescribing laws.
1. Atropt
2. Viagra
3. CaanC
4. Ozempic
ℹ️ Prescribing as a Brand Name
If your prescriber checks "Prescribe as brand name" the Item Trade Name will not be what populates the script. This is due to Australia's Active Ingredient Prescribing Laws.
The prescribed format if Prescribe As Brand Name is checked would be:
item_generic_name (item_trade_name)
In our examples:
1. atropine sulfate monohydrate 1% eye drops, 15 mL (Atropt)
2. sildenafil 25 mg tablet, 4 (Viagra)
3. cannabidiol 10mg + cannabigerol 10mg gummies, 30 (CaanC)
4. semaglutide 1.34 mg/mL injection, 1 x 3 mL pen device (Ozempic)
Other Fields
quantity
Mandatory: ✅
The Quantity field represents the total number of doses in a pack.
For tablets, the quantity reflects the number of tablets in a pack (e.g., atorvastatin comes in packs of 30 tablets, so the quantity = 30).
For forms like inhalers, oils, injections or vials, the quantity is 1 (e.g., Symbicort Turbuhaler or Cannabidiol, as each pack contains a single inhaler or vial of oil).
For multi-pack items, the quantity reflects the total number of units in the pack (e.g., Novorapid comes in packs of 5 pens, so the quantity = 5).
1. Atropt Eye Drops = 1
2. Viagra Pills = 4
3. CaanC Gummies = 30
4. Ozempic Pens = 1
max_repeats
Mandatory: ✅
Max Repeats represents the maximum number of repeats legally allowed for a prescription and should be a number only.
e.g. 5
poison_class
Mandatory: ✅
Poison Class refers to the schedule under the Australian Poisons Standard that the drug is prescribed under and should be formatted as S4, S8 etc.
e.g. S8
item_form
Mandatory: ✅
Item Form should specify the medication’s form in text (e.g., tablet, capsule, inhaler, solution).
1. Atropt Eye Drops = Drops
2. Viagra Pills = Tablet
3. CaanC Gummies = Gummy
4. Ozempic Pens = Injection
item_strength
Mandatory: ✅
This should include the strength of the active molecules. If only one active ingredient, you can just put in the strength. If multiple you can separate the strengths with a /.
1. Atropt Eye Drops = 1%
2. Viagra Pills = 25mg
3. CaanC Gummies = 10mg/10mg
4. Ozempic Pens = 1.34mg/mL
route_of_administration
Mandatory: ✅
Route of Administration should specify the method by which the medication is administered (e.g., oral, inhalation, subcutaneous, intravenous).
1. Atropt Eye Drops = Ophthalmic
2. Viagra Pills = Oral
3. CaanC Gummies = Oral
4. Ozempic Pens = Subcutaneous
description
Mandatory: ❌
You may also include a description of the drug. While this field is not yet used in Parchment, it may be incorporated in future updates.
e.g. This is used for treating something
custom_product_ID
Mandatory: ❌
This field is optional. However, if you wish to add a custom product ID to assist with matching within your practice management software, you can do so here. This is an alphanumeric field. Must be alphanumerical characters only.
e.g. 1234fjsf