National Drug and Poisons Committee must be restructured - AMA
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, today called on the Federal Government to restructure the National Drug and Poisons Scheduling Committee (NDPSC).
Dr Glasson has written to the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, to express the AMA's concern at the structure, membership, processes, and culture of secrecy surrounding the NDPSC.
The NDPSC is responsible for recommending to Australian and New Zealand governments the scheduling and access over all drugs and poisons - pharmaceutical, veterinary, and agricultural.
"The committee has become dysfunctional and has made recent recommendations that could adversely affect the health of the Australian community," Dr Glasson said.
"They have made it easier for people to access, without advice, medicines which have significant dangers of adverse reactions or misuse.
"The Galbally Review of the NDPSC in 2001 recommended an overhaul.
"The AMA believes the NDPSC structure has become unwieldy, and I have asked the Minister to implement the NDPSC overhaul recommended by the Galbally Report," Dr Glasson said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306