This article applies to pathology services and organisations that employ registered medical practitioners.
Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (iGAS Disease) Regulations 2024 (Vic)
On 1 March 2024, the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (IGas Disease) Regulations 2023 (Vic) amended the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Vic) (the Regulations) to introduce a new notifiable condition.
New notifiable Conditions
The Regulations have been amended to now include Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease in Part 1 of Schedule 3 and Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Regulations. Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease has also been removed as a notifiable condition from Part 2 of Schedule 4 of the Regulations.
As a result, registered medical practitioners and pathology services are required to notify the Department of Health of the notification details as soon as practicable where a patient has or may have a notifiable condition or died with a notifiable condition (for medical practitioners), or a test relates to a notifiable condition (for pathology services). Pathology service providers must also notify the Department of Health in writing within 5 business days. Prior to 1 March 2024, pathology services were only required to notify the Victorian Department of Health of Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease in writing within 5 business days, (as Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease was previously listed as a notifiable condition in Part 2 of Schedule 4 of the Regulations).
Failure to notify the Department of Health of a notifiable condition carries a penalty of 60 penalty units (currently $11,538.60).
Conclusion
Organisations should update their policies and procedures to ensure that the new notification requirements are complied with within the prescribed period.
