Pharmacists in Tasmania will be able to better support our communities, after the passing of amendments to the Health Miscellaneous Bill today.
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Roger Jaensch, said amending the Poisons Act 1971 will allow appropriately qualified pharmacists to prescribe certain medications in hospital and community settings.
"Through expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists in Tasmania, there is an opportunity to better utilise the important skills and knowledge held by those professionals," Minister Jaensch said.
"Work in this area is already underway, with the ongoing Pharmacists UTI, and Oral Contraceptive Pill Prescribing Programs successfully delivered across the State.
In other changes, event and festival goers eating from food vans can feel assured with increased food standards to be introduced around Tasmania, with the passing of amendments to the Food Act 2003.
"The Health Miscellaneous Bill modernises legislation and makes several important changes to improve food safety," Minister Jaensch said.
"This is about keeping Tasmanians safe at events and festivals by ensuring food van operators are covered by statewide legislation.
"This reinforces the existing intention of the Act that in the rare event a mobile business is issued with a food safety compliance notice in one Council area, the business needs to follow and address the requirements of the notice, regardless of where the business is selling food.
"This will remove any ambiguity and ensure important food safety standards are followed across the State.
"The changes will also cover the operation of the school lunch programs, which were not operating when the Food Act commenced in 2003 and will fall in line with the way food is provided in public hospitals, for example.
"Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is about making Tasmanian communities stronger, which is what this Bill will do."
