WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986
38
BID TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON SALE OF POISONS
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A PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 IS TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON THE SALE OF POISONS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AT RETAIL OUTLETS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON NIGEL SHIPMAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR SHIPMAN SAID THE BILL MADE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE PHARMACY AND POINSONS ORDINANCE, SOME OF WHICH WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING PARTY ON THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY AND ANCILLARY MATTERS, WHOSE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED IN 1984.
+ALL OF THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD, HE SAID.
MR SHIPMAN SAID: THE ORDINANCE ALREADY PROHIBITS LISTED SELLERS OF POISONS, WHICH IS THE CATEGORY OF MEDICINE DEALERS WHO DO NOT ENGAGE REGISTERED PHARMACISTS, FROM SELLING ANY OF THE POTENT POISONS IN PART I OF THE POISONS LIST.
+THEY ARE NOT HOWEVER SPECIFICALLY DEBARRED FROM DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS.
+THIS SITUATION IS CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC WHO CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO KNOW WHETHER A PRESCRIPTION CONTAINS A PART I POISON AND CANNOT THEREFORE LEGALLY BE DISPENSED BY A LISTED SELLER.+
MR SHIPMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED THE WORKING PARTY'S ADVICE THAT PRESCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE DISPENSED ONLY BY QUALIFIED PHARMACISTS ENGAGED BY AUTHORISED SELLERS OF POISONS OR IN OTHER APPROVED OUTLETS.
+CLAUSE 2 (B) OF THE BILL THEREFORE CLARIFIES THE DEFINITION OF DISPENSING TO INCLUDE THE SUPPLY OF MEDICINE OR POISON ON A PRESCRIPTION ISSUED BY A DOCTOR, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THAT MEDICINE IS IN PART OF THE POISONS LIST OR NOT.+
DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS PROHIBITING DISPENSING BY LISTED SELLERS OF POISONS WOULD BE PROVIDED BY WAY OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
+THE DEFINITION OF SELL IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE DOES NOT INLDUDE SUPPLY WITHOUT PAYMENT AND TECHNICALLY IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR UNAUTHORISED PERSONS TO CIRCUMVENT CONTROL BY OFFERING POISONS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS UNDER THE GUISE OF FREE SUPPLY, HE SAID.
+CLAUSE 2(C) IS INTENDED TO REMOVE THIS LOOPHOLE,+ HE ADDED.
CLAUSE 5 PROVIDED FOR TIGHTER CONTROL ON THE REGISTRATION OF PREMISES OF AUTHORISED SELLERS, WHO WERE THE CATEGORY OF RETAIL OUTLET THAT MIGHT SELL PART I POISONS, PROVIDED THAT THEY ENGAGED A REGISTERED PHARMACIST FOR THIS PURPOSE.
/*UNDER THE