AHPRA Introduces Hair Testing For Drugs, International Criminal History Check

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has announced that mandatory hair testing for all practitioners with substance-related impairment will be introduced in July this year.
The testing will be routine for all registered health practitioners with substance-related impairment, and will be in addition to urine tests. The aim is, over time, to provide comprehensive information about the use of a wide range of drugs.
AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said the protocol will ensure drug screening in the National Scheme is evidence-based, effective and timely.
Decisions on individual cases of practitioners with impairments will be made by the National Boards and based on testing standards set out in the protocol, including:

• nationally consistent threshold limits, so all pathology providers conducting the tests use consistent testing baselines


• agreed ‘critical events’ – in addition to positive test results - requiring action and follow up


• agreed triggers for National Boards to consider disciplinary action

The announcement comes just a couple of weeks after AHPRA added international criminal history checks to its repertoire. The new approach requires certain applicants and already-registered practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check with an AHPRA-approved vendor, who will make the report to AHPRA.
All new applications seeking registration need to apply for the check if they declare a criminal history overseas, or have lived overseas for six consecutive months or longer when aged over 18. Registered practitioners  must apply if they are seeking to renew registration for a change in type, if there has been a change to their criminal history in overseas countries, or if they have been charged with or convicted of an offence outside Australia that is punishable of a sentence exceeding 12 months imprisonment.
For more information on AHPRA's rules and regulations, visit their website.