The Allan Labor Government will strengthen health regulation in Victoria to better protect Victorians, including those who are accessing or born through assisted reproductive treatment (ART).
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today introduced the Health Legislation Amendment (Regulatory Reform) Bill which will deliver stronger compliance and enforcement powers for the newly established Health Regulator.
The reform will enable the Health Regulator to better protect Victorians across medicines and poisons, private hospitals and day procedure centres, first aid services, safe drinking water and assisted reproductive treatment.
The Health Regulator will now be able to ensure SafeScript - a clinical decision-making support tool - is being used effectively to protect Victorians from accidental prescription drug overdoses.
It will also allow the regulator to request information and issue improvement and infringement notices to private hospitals and day procedure centres to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
The Bill also transfers regulation of ART into the Health Regulator - bringing together regulation and subject-matter experts.
It will improve compliance and enforcement powers in line with recommendations from the Review of Assisted Reproductive Treatment undertaken by Michael Gorton AM.
Changes will be made to simplify access to information from the donor conception registers, reducing barriers and delays associated with accessing donor egg and sperm from inter-state or overseas - while maintaining effective safeguards for Victorians.
Donor conception registers will be managed by a new Donor Conception Registrar within the Department of Health.
The Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 will continue to ensure people are provided with the information they're entitled to from the donor conception registers, with resources and support available to help make informed decisions.
This includes provision of funding for qualified and experienced counsellors to deliver quality counselling.
Mandatory counselling before someone consents to donate or undergo treatment using donated eggs or sperm will remain as an important safeguarding mechanism.
The government will continue to engage and seek feedback from the sector as it implements these reforms, including through a new donor conception advisory group made up of experts and advocates who will provide ongoing advice and expertise on donor conception.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"These reforms will modernise and strengthen compliance and enforcement powers to better protect the health of Victorians."
"These reforms will not only better regulate the ART sector - they will also ensure appropriate support and guidance continues to be provided to the many Victorians that use these services to create their families."
