Structured Administration and Supply Arrangements

Most medicines authorities (such as administer, dispense or prescribe) for registered health practitioners are listed in the Medicines and Poisons Regulations. These are linked to national registration categories and are fixed. Only a person authorised to prescribe may write a prescription or instruct another practitioner to administer a medicine.

In some other specific circumstances a Structured Administration and Supply Arrangement can be used to authorise a health practitioner (who is not a prescriber) to supply or administer a medicine.

What is a SASA?

A SASA is a written direction that authorises a health practitioner to administer or supply a medicine to any patient meeting the specified circumstances. A SASA means that a separate prescription or written direction to use the medicine is not required for each individual patient.

Types of SASA

A SASA may be issued by:

  1. The Chief Executive Officer of Health that can apply to any practitioner working in WA.
  2. A hospital or health service that may apply to health practitioners employed by that organisation.
  3. A medical practitioner for a health practitioner employed by the medical practitioner.
CEO of Health SASA

The CEO of Health may authorise any practitioner or person in WA to use medicine through a SASA. These SASA provide authority to supply or administer medicines to health practitioners outside of any standard medicines authority linked to national registration.

The current SASA that have been issued by the CEO are listed below. Each contains a number of important and mandatory conditions that must be observed by any person utilising the SASA. The SASA only applies to the persons and circumstances named within, and are only valid when all the conditions are met, including any additional training required of the health practitioner.

Note: Health Service Providers, individual hospitals and clinics may also issue SASAs applicable to their staff. Those SASAs are not published on this webpage.

Aboriginal Health Practitioners

Enrolled nurses

Laboratory technicians and medical scientists

MHC trained AOD Harm Reduction worker

Midwives

Pharmacists

Podiatrists

Registered nurses

WA Country Health Service nurses

Hospital/Health service SASA

A hospital or health service permit holder may issue a SASA that can be used by certain health practitioners employed by that organisation. A health service permit is a type of permit issued under the Medicines and Poisons Regulations to first aid and medical treatment businesses, such as ambulance services.

The Guidance Note: Structured Administration and Supply Arrangements for Hospitals and Health Services (Word 397KB) includes:

  • what can be authorised and the restrictions of this type of SASA
  • information on how to write a SASA
  • a suggested document template.

A copy of the Hospital or Health Service SASA needs to be sent to Email: MPRB@health.wa.gov.au

Medical practitioner SASA

A medical practitioner may issue a SASA that can be used by certain health practitioners employed by that medical practitioner. These are sometime referred to as standing orders.

The Guidance Note: Structured Administration and Supply Arrangements for Medical Practitioners (Word 397KB) includes:

  • information on what can be authorised and the restrictions of this type of SASA
  • information on how to write a SASA
  • a suggested document template.
Last reviewed: 28-05-2024

More information

Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Mailing address: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849
Phone: 9222 6883
Email: MPRB@health.wa.gov.au