AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES (CONFIDENTIALITY) AMENDMENT REGULAtIONS 2003 (NO 1) 

SUBORDINATE LAW No SL 2003-9

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The purpose of the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Amendment Regulations 2003 is to amend the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Regulations 1992, under section 14 of the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Act 1992.  

The aim of these Regulations is to allow The Opiate Program to be declared an epidemiological study under the Act to provide statutory protection for certain information collected under the Program.

The Opiate Program is an innovative health program being undertaken by the ACT Division of General Practice to provide support to GPs to better manage opiate dependent patients in their practice.

The complex needs of opiate dependant people present many challenges to their health care providers.  The Opiate Program has been developed to support and assist General Practitioners to provide a comprehensive range of health care services to opiate dependent people.

The Program will include methadone provision, counselling, outreach and referral and will operate as a link between existing alcohol and drug services, General Practice and Community Pharmacies.

DETAILS OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS

Clause 1 provides that the name of the regulations is the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Amendment Regulations 2003 (No.)
 
Clause 2 provides that the commencement date of the regulations as the day after their notification.

Clause 3 states that the regulations amend the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Regulations 1992. 

Clause 4 inserts a new Regulation 8 Prescribed study – the opiate program.