Page 1957 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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(2) Does the real time prescription monitoring scheme cover benzodiazepines; if not (a) why not and (b) when will it.
Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The ACT Government’s online prescription monitoring system known as DAPIS Online Remote Access (DORA) commenced operation for all eligible users on 27 March 2019. The ACT Government is working with the Australian Government to establish a real time data feed to DORA in order that it may operate as a real time system. Access to the Australian Government real time data feed is expected to commence in the coming months.
(a) As of 2 April 2019, 61 users are registered to access DORA. ACT Health is unable to comment on level of usage by registered DORA users.
(b) ACT Health is unable to comment on public health outcomes achieved from the system so far. It is too early to comment on health outcomes arising from the system.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.
(2) In accordance with Part 6A of the Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 (MPTG Act), DORA may only display information about monitored medicines, which is currently limited to controlled medicines. Controlled medicines are those medicines listed under schedule 8 of the Commonwealth Poisons Standard.
(a) Alprazolam and flunitrazepam are benzodiazepines that are controlled medicines and covered by DORA. Most benzodiazepines however, are prescription only (schedule 4) medicines and therefore not able to be displayed in DORA.
(b) The ACT Government has no immediate plans to expand the scope of monitored medicines to schedule 4 medicines for the purposes of DORA. The Minister may declare other medicines to be a monitored medicine under the MPTG Act by disallowable instrument. The ACT Government will consider possible expansion of the scope of monitored medicines in the database in the future, following initial DORA rollout, consultation with stakeholders and as part of considerations at a national level including evaluation of the system.
Municipal services—petrol-powered devices
(Question No 2376)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for City Services, upon notice, on 22 March 2019:
Are there any plans to phase out the use of internal combustion engines from ACT Government City Services maintenance and garden use as petrol engines powering leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and like devices consume fossil fuel, add to atmospheric carbon dioxide and, being mainly 2 stroke, other pollution from unburnt hydrocarbons.
Mr Steel: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
City Services currently has a mix of electric, two stroke and four stroke powered tools and equipment. All machines are kept serviced to ensure optimum performance. Where an
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