Asynchronous Medicines Legislation for Non-Medical Prescribing

Abstract

National registration of Australian health practitioners aimed to facilitate workforce mobility. Non-medical prescribers, including nurses, podiatrists and optometrists, are overseen by National Boards which, in some cases, specify a formulary from which their health practitioners may prescribe. All prescribers must comply with their respective State or Territory's legislation. If prescribing a medicine that is a benefit under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), additional restrictions may apply. National Board and PBS prescribing formularies were compared and State and Territory medicines legislation was interrogated regarding non-medical prescribing. Discrepancies were identified between the approved formularies for non-medical prescribers, PBS prescribing formularies and medicines allowed to be prescribed under jurisdictional legislation. Asynchronous medicines legislation provides potential for health professionals to either inadvertently or knowingly breach legislation following national changes to health policy. Consideration should be given to the development of consistent legislation and its uniform commencement across all Australian jurisdictions.