STATUTORY RULES.
1958. No. 42.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953-1957.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Health Act 1953-1957.
Dated this eighteenth
day of June , 1958.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Health.
––––––––––––
Amendments of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits)
Regulations
†
Commencement.
1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of July, 1958.
Writing of prescription.
2. Regulation 17 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (4.) the word and figures “or 44” and inserting in their stead the word and figures “, 44 or 71”.
Supply of pharmaceutical benefits on prescriptions.
3. Regulation 20 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the word and figures “or 44” and inserting in their stead the word and figures “, 44 or 71”.
Supply of pharmaceutical benefit before surrender of written prescription.
4. Regulation 21 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulations (2.) and (4.) the word and figures “or 44” and inserting in their stead the word and figures “,44 or 71”.
First Schedule.
5. The First Schedule to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following item:—
“173 | Chlorothiazide”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1958
† Statutory Rules 1956, No. 54, as amended by Statutory Rules 1956, No. 75; 1957, Nos. 25 and 52; and 1958, No. 23.
3748/58.—Price 3d. 9/9.6.1958.
Second Schedule.
6. The Second Schedule to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting item 2 and inserting in its stead the following item:—
“2 | Bemegride ........... | Antidote for barbiturate and other hypnotic poisons”; |
(b) by omitting items 39 and 60; and
(c) by adding at the end thereof the following items:—
“70 | Amiphenazole Hydrochloride | Antidote for barbiturate and other hypnotic poisons |
“71 | Corticotrophin .......... | Status asthmaticus |
“72 | Saccharated Iron ........ | The treatment of patients unable to take oral iron |
“73 | Sustanon ............. | Mammary carcinoma Castration |
“74 | Puroverine ............ | Hypertensive crises”. |
By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
Statutory Rules 1958 No. 42, issued under the National Health Act 1953-1957, address the need for amendments to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations to incorporate new pharmaceutical benefits and update existing entries. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations were designed to ensure that the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations reflect the latest medical advancements and public health needs. The policy objective is to provide Australians with access to essential medications by updating the list of subsidised pharmaceuticals and adjusting relevant regulatory provisions. This legislative instrument aims to enhance the efficiency and relevance of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, ensuring it meets contemporary health care requirements.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1958, No. 42, under the National Health Act 1953-1957, pertains to the regulation of pharmaceutical benefits within Australia. These regulations apply to all entities and individuals involved in the supply, prescribing, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals covered by the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Scheme. The regulations ensure that certain medications are included in the scheme and adjust the criteria for their supply. These rules are intended to maintain the integrity and accessibility of essential pharmaceutical benefits across the nation, impacting the healthcare industry broadly. Geographically, these regulations have a national reach as they are enacted under Commonwealth legislation. However, the application of these regulations may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments or additional amendments, ensuring they adapt to the evolving needs of the healthcare sector and the population they serve.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these Regulations, which are amendments to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations, primarily focus on modifying the list of pharmaceutical benefits provided under the National Health Act 1953-1957. Specifically, Regulations 2, 3, and 4 amend Regulation 17, Regulation 20, and Regulation 21 respectively to include new pharmaceutical items by replacing existing figures with updated ones, adding “, 44 or 71” in their stead. These changes are intended to expand the range of pharmaceutical benefits covered under the Act.
The obligations and requirements imposed by these Regulations on the parties or entities they govern are primarily centred around ensuring that the amended Regulations are implemented correctly and that all relevant stakeholders are aware of the changes. This includes healthcare providers and pharmacists who must adhere to the new list of pharmaceutical benefits when supplying medications to patients based on prescriptions. The Regulations also require that any supply of pharmaceutical benefits listed in the amended schedules be provided in accordance with the provisions of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations.
The Regulations do not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. However, under the National Health Act 1953-1957, there are provisions for penalties for non-compliance with the Act and its Regulations. These penalties can include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties are not specified in these Regulations but would be determined according to the relevant sections of the National Health Act 1953-1957. It is essential for parties governed by these Regulations to ensure compliance to avoid potential penalties or legal repercussions.