Final Words: Death and Cremation Certification in NZ
Submissions have closed on this Law Commission Issues Paper. Over 40 submissions were received and they can be viewed on the Law Commision website here.
Further consultation will take place before a final report is drafted in 2012.
Proposal that Traditional Chinese Medicine Become a Regulated Profession
Submissions are invited on a proposal that traditional Chinese Medicine become a regulated profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
The proposal document and submissions booklet are available at: www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/consult-regulation-traditional-chinese-medicines
Updated medicines regulations confirmed
Changes to the Medicines Regulations 1984 and Medicines (Standing Order) Regulations 2002 bring about a raft of changes to the regulation of medicines including changes to labelling and advertising requirements, prescribing rights, and generic substitution. The amendments are to better align the law with modern medical practice. The majority of changes come into force on 1 August 2011 with the remainder on 1 December 2011.
The media release from Tony Ryall (Health Minister) can be found at: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/updated-medicines-regulations-confirmed
The Medicines Amendment Regulations 2011 can be found at: www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2011/0245/latest/DLM3831901.html
Repercussions of practising without APC
Professionals are reminded of the importance of attending to recertification requirements and maintaining their annual practising certificate ("APC").
An optometrist was recently censured by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal ("HPDT"), ordered to pay a fine of $1,250 and contribute towards the proceedings costs for practising without an APC.
The Optometrist left his re-application for an APC until his current one had already expired and had neglected to undertake the practical component of the diagnostic pharmaceutical agents recertification programme.
It was further recommended that the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board consider the possibility of conducting a competence review.
The full decision can be found on the HPDT website: www.hpdt.org.nz (decision number Opt10/168P)
Natural Health Products Bill
Consultation on proposals for a Natural Health Products Bill was completed last year. It is expected that the Bill will be drafted and introduced into the House in the second half of 2011. The purpose of the Bill is: “to provide assurance to consumers that natural health products are safe, true to claim and true to label”. More information about the content and process of the Bill can be found on the Ministry of Health website (www.moh.govt.nz).
PSNZ Regional Symposia 2011 - The Professional Voice of the Pharmaceutical Society
PSNZ Regional Symposia 2011 - The Professional Voice of the Pharmaceutical Society
Fiona McCrimmon was a guest presenter at the PSNZ Regional Symposia 2011 held recently in Dunedin and Nelson.
To keep pharmacists up to date with professional matters Dr McCrimmon spoke on employment issues, regulatory requirements associated with pharmacy ownership and other compliance issues relative to pharmacists. Dr McCrimmon also discussed the proposed amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and the potential implications for pharmacists.
Further Symposia will be held in Wellington on 11 June and Auckland on 18 June where Dr McCrimmon will also speak.
Ruth Jeffery - sailing round the Arctic Circle
Ruth Jeffery who recently left McCrimmon Law has made it safely through the first stage of her trip round the arctic from Alaska to Ireland. There was only a brief altercation with an iceberg...
New Employment Law Specialist - Grant Walker joins the McCrimmon Law team
Grant joins McCrimmon Law as our employment law specialist straight from 10 years with an employers' association.
During this time Grant dealt on a daily basis with issues as varied as queries on payment for public holidays to serious misconduct investigations to collective negotiations for both public and private companies and small businesses in the not-for-profit and social sector. This decade of specialist work built on Grant's previous extensive experience in commercial and property law.
Grant is also an experienced mediator and facilitator and undertakes work throughout New Zealand.
Grant can be contacted on (03) 474 0003, mobile 021 996 067, or email grant.walker@mccrimmonlaw.co.nz