(a) When a pharmacist receives a prescription drug order from a practitioner for a brand or trade name drug, the pharmacist may dispense a therapeutically equivalent drug if the following conditions are met:

(1) The practitioner, in the case of a written prescription, places that practitioner’s own signature on the signature line along side or above the words “substitution permitted” pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; or, in the case of a verbal prescription or a verbal prescription reduced to writing, the practitioner states that the substitution may be made; or, in the case of an order written in an institution licensed by the Department of Health and Social Services pursuant to Chapter 10 or Chapter 11 of Title 16, the practitioner has given written authorization to fill all prescription drug orders with therapeutically equivalent drugs unless otherwise indicated;

(2) The pharmacist informs the patient or the patient’s adult representative that a therapeutically equivalent drug has been dispensed;

(3) The pharmacist indicates on the prescription and on the prescription label the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the therapeutically equivalent drug substituted unless the practitioner indicates otherwise.

(b) Unauthorized dispensing of a therapeutically equivalent drug in violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or by a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than 1 year, or both a fine and a term of imprisonment.

(c) Every prescription written in this State by a practitioner must be on a prescription form containing a line for the practitioner’s signature. Alongside or beneath the signature line the words “Substitution Permitted” must be clearly printed. Beneath the signature line the following statement must be clearly printed:

“In order for a brand name product to be dispensed, the prescriber must handwrite ‘Brand Necessary’ or ‘Brand Medically Necessary’ in the space below.”

A second line to accommodate the above-mentioned wording must be provided beneath the statement. Prescription forms containing the appropriate signature line and statement must be used by every practitioner in this State who prescribes drugs.

24 Del. C. 1953, § 2589; 53 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 33; 60 Del. Laws, c. 330, §§ 1-3; 62 Del. Laws, c. 161, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 48, §§ 1, 2; 65 Del. Laws, c. 378, § 5; 68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 216; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 311, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.