Medical kits for remote areas

Introduction

If you live in a remote area you may need to keep prescription medicine for use in an emergency.

You must apply for an authorisation to keep prescription medicine. You can apply for an authorisation to keep a general medical kit or a Department of Health emergency medical kit.

General medical kits can be tailored to fit your needs. They can be stocked with medicines for specific uses, such as for mine sites or pearling vessels.

Emergency medical kits contain supplies for use in unexpected, urgent events. You don't have to pay for these kits. They are designed to help families, small communities or people living on remote stations cope with emergencies.

All medical kits are for emergency use only. If you or your family need ongoing treatment, you should see a doctor.


General medical kits

To keep prescription medicine in your medical kit, you must apply to be authorised.

How to apply

To apply, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application

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

Step 2. Attach supporting documents

You must provide all of the following with your application:

  • a list of all medicines, their strengths and the maximum amount you will keep called an imprest list
  • protocols of use for each medicine on the list
  • a letter from a medical practitioner endorsing medicines to be held in the kit
  • your relevant first-aid or health certificates
  • details of how you will store the medicine
  • a written exit strategy showing what you will do with substances if:
    • the authorised person goes on leave or resigns
    • the business closes
    • there is a flood, cyclone or other emergency.

To find out more about exit strategies, get the exit strategy information sheet on the Department of Health Library Services ePublications.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The fee for an authorisation is $67 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 the 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

Get your kit

You can get supplies for your kit from a pharmacy or registered wholesaler.

To get prescription medicines, you must provide your supplier with a written and signed order.

You must also show your authorisation and a copy of your imprest list to the supplier.

Renewal

The expiry date of your authorisation is on the document - make note of this date.

You won't be able to get new medicines if your authorisation has expired.

A renewal form will be sent to the authorised person about two 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.


Emergency 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 the 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 $67 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 the 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 the form

Fill in the emergency medical kit remote order form.

Step 2. Submit the 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.


Using your kit

The authorised person is legally responsible for the safe storage and use of the medical kit.

You should talk to a doctor before giving medicines from your kit. Keep the contact details of your supervising doctor or the nearest medical centre nearby.

Non-prescription medicines such as Panadol and Ventolin inhalers may be used without medical advice. Kit items should not replace your personal supply.

If you can't contact a doctor in an emergency, you may give a prescription medicine without medical advice.

In this case, you must report to your supervising doctor in writing by fax or email within seven days. You must give the following details:

  • name of patient
  • what drug was given and amount used
  • the time and date the drug was given
  • name of person responsible for the kit
  • name and signature of person giving the drug.

Records

You must keep a register showing details when medicines in your kit are used.

The register can be a simple notebook and should show:

  • the date and time of administration of the medication
  • name of the patient
  • the medicine given and amount used
  • the name of the doctor contacted for medical advice
  • the authorised person's signature.

For morphine injections, the balance of stock must also be recorded.

Records must be kept for at least two years.

Emergency medical kits

You must keep a register showing details of when medicines in your kit are supplied and used.

Use the registers provided in the emergency medical kit remote order form.

The register for recording morphine use is on page three. The register for Schedule 4 drugs is on page four.

You must keep a copy of every delivery docket and invoice for drugs in your kit.


Storage

Medical kits must be stored in a safe and secure spot.

They should not be exposed to extreme temperatures. They should be kept between 10°C to 25°C.

All Schedule 4 and 8 medicines must be stored in a locked cabinet or safe.

You must also follow the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice for Medicines.

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Read more about storing medicines and poisons.


Contact

Medicines and Poisons
5th floor Manunda Place
38 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT 0800
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8922 7341
Fax: 08 8922 7200