Page 2968 - Week 09 - Thursday, 18 September 2014
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Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra): Pursuant to standing order 246A I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services.
At a private meeting on 31 July 2014 the committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into the sourcing and supply of dental prostheses and appliances to Australian dental practitioners from overseas. The supply of dental prostheses and appliances from overseas dental technicians to the Australian dental profession is increasing. A result has been a drop in demand for such appliances from Australian technicians, including long-established and highly competent technicians in the ACT. This trend has been the subject of comment and some observations which have also highlighted the uncertain degree of regulatory and quality control exercised in Australia over the importation of these devices.
The standing committee will take this opportunity to examine the current regulatory and standards regime which applies to this very important area of dental health and provide recommendations about issues which it considers need assessment and action by authorities responsible for this area of health administration.
The committee has adopted the following terms of reference:
To inquire into and report on:
• The sourcing of dental prostheses and appliances from overseas makers by Australian dental practitioners;
• growth in sourcing supply of dental prostheses and appliances since 2009 and the reasons for growth in sourcing and supply;
• the current level and anticipated future of dental prostheses and appliances provided to dental practitioners in the ACT;
• adequacy of current Australian regulatory arrangements and requirements governing the sourcing and supply of dental prostheses and appliances from overseas;
• whether appropriate standards and regulations governing the sourcing and supply of dental prostheses and appliances from overseas are in force in Australia;
• whether dental patients and consumers are aware, or are made aware by practitioners, of the source and supply details of dental prostheses and appliances provided in Australia;
• experiences and relevant regulatory arrangements for dental prostheses and appliances sourced and supplied from overseas in other jurisdictions, such as the UK, US, New Zealand and Canada; and
• any other related matter.
The committee has already called for public submissions to the inquiry.
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