The latest update to AHPRA’s National Prescribing Competencies Framework is part of the regulator’s effort to reign in medicinal cannabis and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
The third edition of the National Prescribing Competencies Framework has landed, and now includes a section focussed on the prescribing of unapproved therapeutic goods, compounded products and medicines for unregistered indications.
It marks the first update to the framework since 2021.
In the interim, Australia has seen the rise and rise of vertically integrated telehealth platforms, the scope of practice review and AHPRA’s vow to crack down on providers putting profits above quality care.
The differences between the second and third editions are the new competency, minor edits to other competencies and an updated introduction and terminology section.
More specifically, the new competency asks providers to “ensure adequate and current knowledge when prescribing unapproved therapeutic goods (i.e. medicines not registered on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods), compounded products and medicines for unregistered indications (i.e. off-label prescribing)”.
AHPRA’s guidance on how to meet this competency is to only consider prescribing unregistered, compounded or off-label medicines when a registered medicine is unavailable or inappropriate.
In cases where one of these products was prescribed, AHPRA advised documenting the reasoning for the decision in the patient’s digital health record.
The regulator specifically mentioned that the inclusion of the new competency followed AHPRA’s “recent guidance in other areas with high volumes of prescribing, including medicinal cannabis and non-surgical cosmetic procedures”.
It sits under competency area four, which looks at prescribing medicines and communicating the agreed treatment decision.
Other competencies in that area include ensuring compliance with relevant legislations with relevant legislation, guidelines and policies when prescribing via telehealth or via telephone services, providing accurate information to other health professionals in a timely manner and discussing the treatment plan with the patient.
These competencies were among those which received minor edits in the new edition.
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the update was evidence-based and emphasised the need for quality and safe use of medicines.
“This framework is part of the foundational building blocks that educators, regulators, practitioners and even the public can use to understand what’s expected in safe and effective prescribing,” he said.
“The principles in this framework guide what is expected of any prescriber so it’s important that it keeps pace with the evolving healthcare landscape.”
AHPRA will host the third edition of the framework until December 2029.
