McCrimmon Law News Feed

Public submissions invited on proposals to protect babies' bloodspot card information

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Amendments to the Health Information Privacy Code have been proposed primarily to improve protections for information obtained from newborn babies' bloodspot samples.

The full media release along with details of the proposed amendments and information about making a submission can be found here on the Privacy Commissioner website.

Public submissions may be made until 13 April 2012.

13th Annual Medical Law Conference 26-27 March 2012, Wellington

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Fiona McCrimmon will be giving a presentation at this conference on "Improving the regulation of medicines and complementary therapies in New Zealand ".

The full agenda for both the two day Medical Law conference (26-27 March 2012) and the Mental Health Law conference the following day (28 March 2012) and registration details can be found here on the conferenz.co.nz website.

Medicines Amendment Bill - First reading

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This Bill had its first reading on 28 February 2012. It has been referred to the Health Committee with submissions on the Bill due by 13 April 2012 and the Committee report due by 2 July 2012.

As stated on the New Zealand Parliament website "This bill amends the Medicines Act 1981 to address some problematic provisions affecting the approval and prescription of medicines and medical devices."

You can find further information about the Bill and making submissions here on the New Zealand Parliament website.

Final Words: Death and Cremation Certification in NZ

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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.

Updated medicines regulations confirmed

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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

Proposal that Traditional Chinese Medicine Become a Regulated Profession

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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

Repercussions of practising without APC

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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

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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

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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.