DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Figure 13: NT Schedule 8 drug prescription and patient contracts 1992-93 to 2008-09No. of S8Prescriptions35000300002500020000150001000050000100080060040020001992-931993-94No. ofPatient Contracts1994-951995-961996-971997-981998-991999-002000-012001-022002-032003-042004-052005-062006-072007-082008-092009-10YearNo. of S8 PrescriptionsNo. of Patient ContractsOne of the issues handled by CLAC through 2009-10 was the shortage of Methadone tabletsmanufactured by Sigma Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd. These tablets became out ofstock nation wide with supplies becoming low in the Northern Territory in late December2009/early January 2010.On the recommendation of CLAC, methadone liquid’s status as a restricted S8 substancewas revoked, until such time as methadone tablets were again available. This enabledmethadone liquid to be more accessible to patients who had a legitimate need for its use aspart of their pain management and where alternate medications was not clinically indicatedor in the patient’s best interest.In late January 2010, upon advice that methadone tablet availability was returning to normalwith no future supply issues anticipated in the Northern Territory, methadone liquid wasagain declared a restricted S8 substance, taking effect on 1 February 2010.Radiation ProtectionThe Radiation Protection Act commenced on 5 October 2009. Additional authorisationsrequired under the Act are summarised as follows: of these were for sealed radioactive material because sealed sources are now registeredunder the Act. There are currently 83 radiation places registered.issued. Of the current licences, 183 can generally be described as relating to industry,93 medical and 129 others. 164 licences were previously counted as permits under the(repealed) Radiographers Act. There were 79 inspections of a radiation place.The Radiation Protection Act covers ionising radiation and, from April 2010, one categoryof non-ionising radiation - solaria. Tanning beds in the Northern Territory must be registeredand a licence is required for their possession and use. Currently there are two tanning bedsin the Territory.152Department Health and Families