Notifying lost or stolen drugs under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008
The NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 requires persons who are authorised to be in possession of a drug of addiction (Schedule 8 substance) or ‘prescribed restricted substance’ (Schedule 4 Appendix D substance) to immediately notify the Director-General of Health of any loss or theft of these drugs.
Drugs of Addiction (S8 substances): These are substances listed under Schedule 8 (S8) of the NSW Poisons List and are substances which may be abused, are addiction producing or potentially addiction producing, and potentially dangerous. Examples of these drugs are morphine, oxycodone, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, pethidine, hydromorphone and flunitrazepam.
A list of all S8 substances is available online.
S4D Substances: These are substances listed in Appendix D to the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation. These substances may be abused and/or are liable to cause dependence. Examples of these drugs are amylobarbitone (when packed and labelled for injection), anabolic/androgenic steroidal agents, methylphenobarbitone, phenobarbitone, thiopentone, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, temazepam, Schedule 4 dextropropoxyphene preparations, diethylpropion, ephedrine, pentobarbitone (when packed and labelled for injection), phentermine and Schedule 4 pseudoephedrine preparations.
A list of all S4D substances is available online.
Persons authorised to be in possession of S8 or S4D substances may include medical practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, ambulance officers, veterinary practitioners, pharmaceutical wholesalers and pharmaceutical manufacturing licence holders, and persons in charge of a laboratory used for the purpose of analysis or research.
Notifying the NSW Ministry of Health of any loss or theft
Pharmaceutical Services of the NSW Ministry of Health must be immediately notified when the loss or theft of an S8 or S4D substance has occurred. Any loss must be notified, regardless of the amount.
The notification must be made without delay and as soon as the facts of the incident are known.
Notification forms for private health facilities and community pharmacies, the NSW public health system, and wholesalers, are provided below. Email the completed form to pharmserv@doh.health.nsw.gov.au.
If a theft has occurred as part of a robbery, the Police should be contacted.
Assistance or advice can be obtained during business hours by contacting the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer at Pharmaceutical Services on telephone (02) 9391-9944.
Loss or theft from a private health facility or a community pharmacy
For each incident of loss or theft of an accountable drug from a private health facility (including a hospital, a day procedure centre, a medical centre, a general practice, or a dental surgery) or a community pharmacy, a notification is to be made using the form:
Notification of Loss or Theft of Accountable Drugs
Following initial notification, if and when further details become available about the incident, the form should be re-submitted to include the additional details.
Loss or theft from the NSW public health system
For each incident of loss or theft of an accountable drug from the NSW public health system (including the NSW Ambulance Service), a notification is to be made using the form:
Notification of Loss or Theft of Accountable Drugs
An ‘accountable’ drug in the NSW public health system may include a substance other than a S8 or S4D drug. An incident involving the loss or theft of such a drug (or drugs) may be reported to Pharmaceutical Services using the notification form.
The form is to be completed by the Director of Pharmacy, or Director of Nursing where no pharmacist is employed.
Staff should be aware of any local LHD protocols that should be followed. Protocols may include the completion of an Incident Information Management System (IIMS) report. A Reportable Incident Brief (RIB) may be required in some circumstances. Further details are provided here.
Following initial notification to Pharmaceutical Services, if and when further details become available about the incident, the form should be re-submitted to include the additional details.
Loss or theft from a wholesaler or manufacturer
Companies that have been issued with a licence to supply poisons and/or restricted substances, or a licence to manufacture or supply drugs of addiction by wholesale are required to notify Pharmaceutical Services of any loss or theft of any S8 or S4D substance. Additionally, the loss or theft of a S2, S3 or S4 substance may be notified.
For each incident of loss or theft, a notification is to be made using the form:
Notification of Loss or Theft of Accountable Drugs
Following initial notification to Pharmaceutical Services, if and when further details become available about the incident, the form should be re-submitted to include the additional details.