EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1987 NO 76
ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH
NATIONAL ACT 1953
NATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Section 140 of the National Health Act 1953 (“the Act”) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters which by the Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
Paragraph 9A(1)(a) of the Act provides that the Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, arrange for the supply by the Commonwealth of such medical or surgical aids, equipment and appliances as are prescribed to persons who require them. Regulation 27 of the National Health Regulations prescribes for purposes of paragraph 9A(1)(a) the medical or surgical aids, equipment and appliances that are specified in Schedule 1 to those Regulations.
It is intended that the Australian Diabetes Foundation be given a grant to act as agent for the Minister to supply persons suffering from diabetes with insulin syringes and needles, and testing materials for diabetes. The Regulations provide authority for this by including the following additional items in Schedule 1 to the National Health Regulations:
15 Insulin syringes and needles
16 Equipment used for testing and monitoring the diabetic condition.
The Regulations came into operation on the date of their notification in the Gazette.