Poisons Act 1971

A prescriber may access, use and disclose information in the monitored medicines database – for the purpose of providing information to the monitored medicines database in accordance with this Act or the regulations; and in relation to a person to whom monitored medicines may be supplied, prescribed or administered; and in respect of a person in relation to the medical treatment or care of that person; and for the purpose of disclosing information in the monitored medicines database to a registered health practitioner involved in the care of a person whose information is maintained in the database; and for any other prescribed purpose.

A dispenser may access, use and disclose information in the monitored medicines database – for the purpose of providing information to the monitored medicines database in accordance with this Act or the regulations; and in relation to a person to whom monitored medicines may be supplied, prescribed or administered; and in respect of a person in relation to the medical treatment or care of that person; and for the purpose of disclosing information in the monitored medicines database to a registered health practitioner involved in the care of a person whose information is maintained in the database; and for any other prescribed purpose.

The Secretary may authorise a person, a class of persons, an entity or a class of entities to access, use and disclose information in the monitored medicines database for the purposes specified in the authorisation, in relation to the person, class of persons, entity or class of entities, if the Secretary is satisfied that the access, use and disclosure – would assist in achieving the purposes of – promoting safe prescribing and dispensing practices in respect of monitored medicines; and reducing harm associated with monitored medicines; or would assist in achieving the purposes of the monitored medicines database; or is for technical or administrative purposes relating to the maintenance of the monitored medicines database; or is to facilitate evaluation of and research into monitored medicines and the operation of the monitored medicines database.

An authorisation under subsection (3) must – be in writing; and in the case of an authorisation for a class of persons, or a class of entities, be published in the Gazette.

Any person or entity who is authorised by the Secretary under subsection (3), or who belongs to a class of persons or a class of entities that is authorised by the Secretary under subsection (3), may access, use and disclose information in the monitored medicines database for the purposes specified in that authorisation.