Policies and Processes of DHBs Related to Off-label Drugs to be Scrutinized

The Southern District Health Board has agreed that some important alterations are needed following investigation into its use of animal tranquilliser Ketamine, which is also used by some humans as a recreational high.

Speaking about the Health and Disability Commission (HDC) investigation report, The DHB's chief medical officer, David Tulloch, said, "It is a thorough report and makes sensible recommendations which we have already begun a process to implement It is a complex area and it will help improve the processes of Southern DHB and other DHBs nationally."

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Policies and processes of the Southern DHB and DHBs across the country pertaining to off-label prescribing of drugs will now be scrutinized in detail as a result of the investigation.

It is high time some of the policies protocols and procedures are tightened up concerning treatments with off-label drugs. The report also feels that audits of the policies are needed to ensure their effectiveness and the results should be reported to the HDC.

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Source-Medindia

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