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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 said on Monday the new service fees were independent of the recently-introduced dispensing fee.
It said if pharmacists charged the new fee, "they must be itemised, clearly indicated and transparent".
"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.
Recommended maximum fee
"Until agreement has been reached with the medical schemes, consumers will need to pay for these services themselves," the PSSA said.
"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 was time to recognise the professional role of pharmacists, and to remunerate them accordingly.
The PSSA also listed "scenarios" when a service fee would 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 was 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.
What it could cost
Since Friday, chemists can levy the following maximum fees:
