21Authority for use of drugs by
optometrists
(1)
The Board may grant a registered optometrist an
optometrists drug authority under section 17B of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966
if satisfied, on the basis of criteria approved under that section for
assessing competency, that the optometrist meets the competency standards
approved under that section in respect of the class of authority
concerned.
Note—
Section 17B of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966
authorises an optometrist who holds an optometrists drug authority to possess,
use, supply or prescribe, in the practice of optometry, such poisons and
restricted substances as may be approved under that section in respect of the
class of authority concerned.
(2)
The Board may grant an optometrists drug
authority subject to conditions and the conditions of the authority may be
altered or added to by the Board at any time by notice in writing to the
optometrist.
(3)
An optometrists drug authority remains in force
(unless sooner cancelled) for the period specified in the authority but that
period is not to exceed the relevant maximum period for an authority approved
under section 17B of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act
1966. This subsection does not prevent the grant of
further optometrists drug authorities to an optometrist.
(4)
The Board may withdraw an optometrists drug
authority at any time by notice in writing to the
optometrist.
(5)
For the purposes of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966
(and despite any provision of that Act) a registered optometrist is authorised
to possess and use, in the practice of optometry, such cycloplegics, local
anaesthetics, mydriatics, miotics and such other drugs (being one or more of
the drugs prescribed under section 29A (2) of the Optometrists Act 1930 immediately before
the repeal of that section) as may be prescribed for use by registered
optometrists by the regulations under this Act, but only for such purposes as
may be prescribed by those regulations.
s 21: Am 2004 No 55,
Sch 1.16.