Medical kits for remote areas

If you live in a remote area, you can apply to the Northern Territory Government for an emergency medical kit.

This kit is not for specialised workplaces. It's for people that don't have easy access to medical help. Common users of the kit include:

• families living and working on cattle stations
• rangers based in remote areas
• police based in remote areas.

You don't have to pay for these kits. They belong to and are funded by the Department of Health.

If you want to keep prescription medication in your kit, you must apply and pay for authorisation.

Conditions

Conditions for emergency medical kits include all of the following:

• the kit needs to be available to everyone who needs it, not just the workmates or family of the authorised holder
• it's for emergencies and not to be used for normal household use or treatment of ongoing conditions
• you must not charge for giving treatment from the kit
• the authorised holder must make sure medicines are stored securely and that records are kept
• you must contact the rural medical practitioner before using prescription medicines in the kit.

If you leave the site, you must contact Medicines and Poisons within 7 days to cancel your authorisation.

A new authorisation must be organised for the next kit holder, or the kit contents must be returned to the hospital pharmacy they came from.

How to apply

To get an authorisation for an emergency medical kit, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in application

Fill in the possess scheduled medicines in a emergency medical kit application.

Step 2. Attach supporting documents

You must attach supporting documents if:

• you want to keep injection equipment or medicines or
• the application is for an existing medical kit.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The fee for an authorisation is $70 per year.

You can renew your licence for 1, 2, or 3 years.

You can pay by cheque, money order or credit card.

Payments must be made to the Darwin Receiver of Territory Monies.

Step 4. Submit application

Submit the application, supporting documents and a copy of your payment receipt by mail, email or fax to:

Medicines and Poisons
Department of Health
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8922 7200

How to order your kit

To get your kit once you're authorised, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in form

Fill in the emergency medical kit remote order form.

Step 2. Submit form

For Darwin, Katherine and East Arnhem regions, send the form by mail, email or fax to:

The Pharmacy Manager
Katherine Hospital
PO Box 73
Katherine NT 0852
kdhpharmacy.ths@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8973 9010

For Alice Springs and Barkly region, send the form by mail, email or fax to:

The Director of Pharmacy
Alice Springs Hospital
PO Box 2234
Alice Springs NT 0871
alicespringspharmacy.dhcs@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8951 7766

Step 3. Get your kit

You can choose to pick up your kit or have it delivered.

You should allow three weeks before your kit is delivered.

You can collect your kit from:

• Alice Springs Hospital Pharmacy
• Katherine Hospital Pharmacy
• Barkly Mobile Health Service
• your nearest health centre.

Order items for your kit

You should replace items that have been used or have expired.

To order supplies, you must fill in and submit the emergency medical kit remote order form.

Renewal

You should renew your licence before the expiry date.

A renewal form will be sent to the authorised person about 2 months before it's due to expire.

It's your responsibility to renew your authorisation if you still need to keep and use the medicines.

Further information

For more information, get the guide to emergency medical kits on the Department of Health website.