Communications and advocacy update: 18 August
18 August 2022
Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including:
- Consultation: Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017, Schedule 9 Poisons
- Health Workforce Strategy
- Updated clinical guidance: COVID-19 medications for at risk people who do not require oxygen.
Consultation: Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017, Schedule 9 Poisons
The Victorian Department of Health is proposing to restrict permits for Schedule 9 poisons for human therapeutic use under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 to clinical trials approved by a human research ethics committee. This would ensure consistency with the national Scheduling Policy Framework for Medicines and Chemicals (Scheduling Policy).
The Department has developed a consultation paper explaining this this proposal in more detail.
The Department seeks AMA Victoria’s views, and has posed the following questions:
- Do you support the proposed amendment that ensures Victoria follows the national Scheduling Policy that limits human therapeutic use of Schedule 9 poisons to a controlled clinical trial?
- Do you have any comments on the proposed amendments?
- Do you have any comments on the proposed prescribed form for the purposes of a medical practitioner applying for a Schedule 9 permit under section 33A of the Act, included in Appendix 1 (of the consultation paper)?
If you would like to contribute to AMA Victoria’s response, please send your feedback to Senior Policy Adviser, Lewis Horton, at LewisH@amavic.com.au, by Friday 26 August.
Health Workforce Strategy
The Victorian Department of Health is developing a Workforce Strategy. The strategy is designed to be “future-focused…and will outline an approach for workforce recovery, development, and growth over the coming decade, while also identifying immediate actions [the Department] can take to better support the health workforce.”
To this end, the Department is seeking written submissions to further inform the initial development of the strategy. Submissions are requested to focus on workforce training, development, or capability; workforce supply and growth; or workforce wellbeing and engagement (but the Department will welcome input on any topic that participants feel needs to be considered).
If you would like to contribute to AMA Victoria’s submission, please provide any thoughts/suggestions/insights to Senior Policy Adviser, Lewis Horton, at LewisH@amavic.com.au, by Tuesday 20 September.
Updated clinical guidance: COVID-19 medications for at risk people who people who do not require oxygen
The Victorian Department of Health has provided updated clinical guidance about COVID-19 medications for at risk people who people who do not require oxygen from the COVID+ Pathways Program.
This clinical guidance has been updated to align with emerging data and clinical advice.
Key changes:
- Addition of a recommendation for advice to patients about PaxlovidTM rebound
- Addition of advice around eGFR testing being a clinical decision, rather than a routine step, when prescribing PaxlovidTM
- Updated National Medical Stockpile (NMS) criteria. The NMS criteria has been broadened to enable more COVID+ patients being treated by a hospital to be considered for therapy. Where appropriate, the risk factors have been aligned with the PBS to simplify for prescribers who work across multiple settings. However, the additional requirements such as age and number of risk factors required is broader in the NMS criteria. New criteria for treating positive patients in outbreak settings has also been added.
- Updated prioritisation advice to simplify the process for NMS prescribers.
Click here for more information on medications for patients with COVID-19.
