❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Health regarding the TGA's decision to reject applications for vape battery access while approving medicinal cannabis vape cartridges, highlighting potential inconsistencies and impacts on patient access. The Minister's representative acknowledges the issue is new to the WA Department of Health and commits to working with the TGA.
AnsweredQoN 1532Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
VAPES —
MEDICINAL USE — BATTERIES
1532. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent,
almost inexplicable decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to reject
applications from pharmacists for special access scheme approval to dispense
vape batteries, even though the regulator is approving the prescription of
medicinal cannabis vape cartridges themselves.
(1) Is the
minister aware of this issue; and, if she is not, will she investigate it and
raise any concerns she might have with the TGA as a matter of urgency?
(2) Can the
Department of Health conceive of any logic behind allowing the prescription of
medication without allowing patients access to the only legal means by which it
can be administered?
(3) Does the minister stand by the response she gave
me in June of 2022 stating, ''Devices designed and intended for delivery of � medicinal cannabis may be
supplied by a registered pharmacy in line with a prescription'', and that there would be no impact to the
legitimate supply of medicinal cannabis as a result of Labor's local and national vaping crackdowns given that this decision appears to make a mockery
of that commitment?
MEDICINAL USE — BATTERIES
1532. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent,
almost inexplicable decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to reject
applications from pharmacists for special access scheme approval to dispense
vape batteries, even though the regulator is approving the prescription of
medicinal cannabis vape cartridges themselves.
(1) Is the
minister aware of this issue; and, if she is not, will she investigate it and
raise any concerns she might have with the TGA as a matter of urgency?
(2) Can the
Department of Health conceive of any logic behind allowing the prescription of
medication without allowing patients access to the only legal means by which it
can be administered?
(3) Does the minister stand by the response she gave
me in June of 2022 stating, ''Devices designed and intended for delivery of � medicinal cannabis may be
supplied by a registered pharmacy in line with a prescription'', and that there would be no impact to the
legitimate supply of medicinal cannabis as a result of Labor's local and national vaping crackdowns given that this decision appears to make a mockery
of that commitment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
the rather wordy and lengthy question. On behalf of the minister, I provide the
following succinct answer.
(1)–(3) To
date, this specific issue has not been raised with the Western Australia
Department of Health. The department regularly works with the Therapeutic Goods
Administration to address any regulatory barriers that exist in relation to the
lawful supply of medicinal cannabis.
the rather wordy and lengthy question. On behalf of the minister, I provide the
following succinct answer.
(1)–(3) To
date, this specific issue has not been raised with the Western Australia
Department of Health. The department regularly works with the Therapeutic Goods
Administration to address any regulatory barriers that exist in relation to the
lawful supply of medicinal cannabis.
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