What we do in Health Protection and Licensing Services
SA Health’s Health Protection and Licensing Services works to protect and promote the public health and wellbeing of all South Australians.
We achieve this through developing and administering public health legislation on behalf of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing and the Department for Health and Wellbeing. We provide authoritative high-level advice on public health issues and work in partnership with Local Government, other government agencies, business, non-government organisations and the community to protect the health of South Australians.
We make an important contribution to the conditions and environments that keep people safe and healthy, enhance quality of life, and significantly reduce the need for treatment and the anguish caused by illness and injury. Importantly, in protecting and promoting public health and wellbeing, we also contribute to the economic wellbeing of South Australia.
Who we are
Health Protection and Licensing Services consists of the:
Clinical Regulation Branch
COVID-19 Management and Compliance Branch
Food Safety and Regulation Branch
Health Protection Branch
Scientific Services Branch
Office of Health Protection and Licensing Services
Clinical Regulation Branch
The Clinical Regulation Branch regulates and monitors prescribed drugs of dependence to allow patients to access appropriate treatment while minimising the potential harms associated with drug dependence, misuse, and diversion. The branch also licences private hospitals, day procedure centres and ambulance services.
The branch consists of the Health Licensing Unit, the Drugs of Dependence Unit, and the ScriptCheckSA Unit.
The Drugs of Dependence Unit administers delegated provisions of the Controlled Substances Act 1984, Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 2011, and the Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of Drugs of Dependence 2012 to minimise the potential public health harms and costs associated with dependence, misuse, and diversion of prescribed drugs. On behalf of the Minister, DDU is delegated to
authorise doctors to legally prescribe drugs of dependence to patients for regular use
monitor prescription and dispensing of monitored drugs, including through the maintenance and operation of ScriptCheckSA
regulate inappropriate prescription, supply, transport and storage of drugs of dependence
monitor and limit the supply of potentially harmful prescribed drugs to persons who have a history of consuming drugs in a risky manner, or who seek to obtain drugs by fraudulent or unlawful means, or for unlawful purposes.
COVID-19 Management and Compliance Branch
The COVID Management and Compliance Branch works to deliver, implement, manage, monitor, enforce and review effective COVID-19 assessment and management approaches. The branch consists of the COVID Management Plan team, and the COVID compliance team.
the COVID Management Plan team works with event organisers for activities of more than 1,000 people to support them through the COVID Management Plan (CMP) application and approval process.
the COVID Compliance team undertakes COVID compliance monitoring of metropolitan Adelaide businesses under the Emergency Management (Public Activities) Direction.
Food Safety and Regulation Branch
The Food Safety and Regulation Branch protects the public from preventable health risks associated with the consumption of unsafe food. Officers in Food Safety and Regulation work together with other state/territory and bi-national government agencies, and local councils to ensure:
food for sale in South Australia is safe and suitable
consistency and integration of the bi-national food regulation system with New Zealand.
The Branch works to protect the public from preventable health risks by administering the Food Act 2001 and associated regulations and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Branch
investigates food poisoning incidents, notifications of notifiable contaminants and other food safety incidents and takes corrective action (such as food recalls) to protect the safety of the food supply
conducts food safety audits of public hospitals, not for profit delivered meals organisations and other government agencies captured by Food Safety Standard 3.3.1 and relevant high risk business sectors captured under the Primary Production & Processing Standards
The Health Protection Branch identifies, investigates and manages environmental factors that impact on public health by
developing public health policy, legislation, advice and programs for the management of environmentally mediated infectious disease and coordinating outbreak investigations and responses to these diseases
undertaking public health planning and direct service delivery across the Out-of-Council Areas of South Australia (remote), including Unincorporated Areas and Aboriginal Communities
leading the state-wide enforcement of measures to control the supply and consumption of tobacco and e-cigarette products
providing direct service delivery and coordinating Aboriginal Environmental Health programs
develops and implements state legislation, prescribed codes, protocols, guidelines and public health policy for wastewater management, treatment, disposal and recycled water use
manages the public health response to wastewater and recycled water incidents.
Scientific Services Branch
The Scientific Services Branch protects and enhances public health by minimising potential environmental health risks arising in homes and the environment, including from air, water, soil, hazardous substances and from climate change. The branch undertakes scientific-based health risk assessments and data analysis to provide regulatory direction and medical, scientific and technical advice on a wide variety of exposure scenarios by
issuing licences, authorities and permits and undertaking compliance activities related to licences issued under the Controlled Substances Act
1984
seeking and undertaking appropriate and consistent regulation of chemicals
seeking evidence-based adaptation strategies for hazards arising from climate change
undertaking health risk assessments that inform state and private managers and the public on best practices to reduce exposure to various environmental hazards including, from recreational & drinking water, air pollution and chemicals
providing strategic and scientific sound evidence-based advice and direction for dealing with lead exposure in Port Pirie and for the general public.
Office of Health Protection and Licensing Services
The Office of Health Protection and Licensing Services provides executive leadership and management of health protection and licensing functions across the state, high level cross service expertise and operational stewardship.
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