30 August 2002

The Australian Institute of Medical Scientists today called for additional Commonwealth legislation to cover all pathology laboratories and services, not only those that attract Medicare benefits.

Under current legislation some laboratories providing pathology services to the public do not have to undergo accreditation or any formal quality assurance process.

This is because the Commonwealth Government currently regulates pathology services only through the administration of Medicare and services that do not attract Medicare benefits remain unregulated.

The Evaluation of the Australian Pathology Laboratory Accreditation Arrangements, the report of a review conducted for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, has suggested that complementary state-based legislation may be appropriate and has recommended that the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, in partnership with state and territory health authorities, undertake an evaluation of the need for additional legislation to complement the Australian pathology accreditation arrangements.

However, the President of the Institute, Mr John Lown, said today that this issue should be addressed by federal legislation.

"While the number of unregulated pathology services is not large, they do represent a loophole in the regulatory process." he said.

"The present pathology laboratory accreditation arrangements will be significantly improved by the adoption of the recommendations of the review’s report, which the Institute commends and supports. But the control of currently unregulated services to ensure that they comply with national standards will be better carried out by the Commonwealth, so that there is standardisation of requirements across the country."

Mr Lown said that the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists was, in general, very pleased with the report. In particular the Institute endorsed the recommendation that all pathologists and scientists undertake adequate continuing education and be subject to regular, effective performance appraisal. The Institute also supported the increase in the range of sanctions available for dealing with non-compliant laboratories.

For further information contact:

Jan Noble

Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

0419 655 937

(07) 3876 2979

John Lown is available for interview on (08) 9224 2044