Health.vic Podiatrists and medicine regulation.

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There is a two page document on the health vic web site titled Poditrists and medicine regulation.
The section titled Authorised podiatrists- Schedule 2, 3 and 4 medicines, closes with the statement
" No Schedule 8 medicines have been approved in relation to authorised poditrists in Victoria".
Why would they need to reference Schedule 8 medicine here? Is there a history?

There are two known anomalies in the Victorian legislation relating to podiatrists. The first concerns all Victorian podiatrists, the other surgeons.
At the review by health vic completed in late May 2017. The surgeons were the only podiatry group to make a submission. APODC and Apoda vic both failed to make submissions.
Does the reason for the Schedule 8 statement relate in any way to what happened with the surgeons submission.

An endorsed Victorian podiatrists registration certificate claims that they can possess, prescribe, sell or use Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 medicines.
The certificate also references Appendix B. however this is not to be found on the board web site. Any terms and conditions need to be clearly displayed on the certificate and show which drugs are s2 s3 s4 and s8.
The registration certificate is for the general public and the information must be clearly understood by them.

Including S8 medicines on a Victorian registration certificate is clearly wrong and misleading. It is called "fluffing" by the ACCC.
Fluffing is illegal.

A Victorian registered and endorsed podiatrist may find themselves without public liability insurance coverage, if they have not informed their underwriter of this "error" on their registration certificate and display the vic health document prominently in their rooms.

The ACCC can fine both corporations and individuals for this sort of deception. Target received a $200000 plus fine some years ago for deceiving their customers

 

Appendix B references the said appendix on the Guidelines, which is the specific list of scheduled medicines that podiatrists with ESM may prescribe (subjected to further restrictions per State/Territory regulation).

The appendix contains references to the schedules of each substance, including "Opioid analgesic - Oxycodone (in short-acting form) - Oral - Podiatric Surgeon - Must not prescribe or give a written instruction to administer more than 10 doses of 5mg each to a person for a relevant condition" under S8. This document had been there for quite a few years now.

An endorsed podiatric surgeon in VIC with the said wording on their registration could potentially cross the border into NSW and prescribe S8 opiod, so the certificate isn't actually "fluffing".

 

Would not the Vic endorsed podiatric surgeon need a provider number for their NSW rooms. So not a problem then.