Dispensing is a controlled act that authorises one to select, prepare and provide stock medication that has been prescribed to a patient or client (or his/her representative) for administration at a later time.29

To dispense is to prepare and supply to a patient a course of therapy on the basis of a prescription.30

Dispensing is preparation and distribution of a course of therapy to a patient, with appropriate instructions based on a prescription.30

At facility level, drug distribution mainly refers to drugs dispensed by licenced practitioners, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists or pharmacy assistants and collected by a patient.

At community level, drug distribution refers to trained lay people collecting prepacked medications from the facility and delivering them to patients with HIV in the community.29