As a stakeholder that may be impacted by the proposed change, health care professionals are invited to provide feedback on the proposal through the public consultation that is now open.  

Proposed change

The proposed scheduling amendments under consideration would create a new entry in Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard for products that contain over 15 per cent of the substance. Concentrations below 15 per cent would still in in their current schedules, including being unscheduled for less than 0.5 per cent, in therapeutic goods or when used in aerosols.

Medicines and chemicals scheduling

By way of background, scheduling is a national classification system that controls how medicines and chemicals are made available to the public. Medicines and chemicals are classified into Schedules in the Poisons Standard according to the risk of harm and the level of access control required to protect public health and safety. Scheduling decisions are made by a senior medical officer at the TGA acting as a Delegate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health (the Delegate).

Following the current consultation process, the proposed amendments will be referred for advice to the upcoming meeting of the Advisory Committees on Medicines and Chemicals Scheduling (Joint ACMS/ACCS #28) to be held on 22-24 June 2021. 

When a substance is referred to an advisory committee on scheduling, there are two periods of public consultation; the first at the pre-meeting stage, and the second in response to the Delegate’s interim decision. The Delegate’s interim decision is made following consideration of the committee’s advice and the public submissions received during the first consultation. After the public consultation on the interim decision, the Delegate makes the final decision, which is published on the TGA website. Scheduling decisions come into effect on the implementation date given in the Delegate’s final decision.  Further information about the scheduling process and timeframes is available on the TGA website at: www.tga.gov.au/scheduling-medicines-poisons

The first of the public consultations for these proposals has now opened on the TGA website and the TGA are seeking your comment. This consultation closes on Thursday 27 May 2021.

How to provide feedback

If you would like to provide feedback on the proposed changes, please submit your comments through TGA's consultation hub.  To view the pre-meeting notices, which contain more information about the proposed change, please see the Scheduling notification webpage.

If you require any further information on the Scheduling proposals, please contact the Secretariat by email at Medicines.Scheduling@health.gov.au

NQPHN has been funded by the Australian Government and will receive $14 million over four years to establish and operate the centre.

Townsville is one of eight sites nationally where the Adult Mental Health Centres will be trialled, along with Adelaide, Canberra, Corio (Geelong), Greater Darwin, Launceston, North Perth, and Penrith.

The aim of the centres will be to provide a welcoming, ‘no wrong door’ entry point for adults to access mental health information and advice and provide increased accessibility for individuals needing mental health support.

The centre will help to address some of the current gaps existing for people experiencing high levels of distress or suicidal crisis and will reduce the number of emergency department presentations by providing a more accessible entry point to the mental health system.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said the Adult Mental Health Centre will help to connect individuals with longer term care through integration with other local services, helping residents to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“This project is exceptionally exciting for Queensland, especially Townsville, as it prioritises improving access to adult mental health services for our residents,” Ms Whyte said.

“Through a co-design process, NQPHN and the prospective lead provider will be able to collaborate with the community and a range of Queensland stakeholders to ensure the centre meets local needs.

“The centre will provide holistic support for individuals and their families and carers, so that the services and care they receive is based on the individual’s needs and co-ordinated through the Adult Mental Health Centre.

“Importantly, we know that individuals need to be able to access the right services at the right time, and by working in collaboration with existing services in the community, the centre will mean that people will only need tell their story once.

“Our goal is that the centre will be recognised as a safe place for anyone within the community to go, without cost, and not just within office hours, to seek the support they need.”

NQPHN and the prospective lead provider will work closely with the Townsville community to ensure the centre is warm, welcoming, and embraces an evidence-based recovery approach that is client-centric.

Information on the national trial is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

The EOI will close on 11 June 2021.

My Health Record practical demonstrations:

• Best Practice – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• MedicalDirector – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Genie – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Zedmed – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Communicare – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM

Other My Health Record webinars:

• National Provider Portal (NPP) – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP, and ACRRM
• Accessing immunisation information in My Health Record – dates until the 30 June 2021.
• Practice Manager compliance Sessions – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM.
• Pharmacy staff compliance sessions – dates until the 30 June 2021.
• Data quality – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by RACGP and AAPM.
• My Health Record for Allied Health Professionals in Aged Care – 19 May 2021.
• Nurse DIGEST 2021 Series Session 5: Utilising Digital Health Tools in Telehealth. – 3 June 2021.

For further enquiries regarding these webinars, contact the Australian Digital Health Agency at help@digitalhealth.gov.au