Can we buy a chest?
In the past we have provided medical chests to corporate/commercial users of the service in remote locations on a full cost-recovery basis, as non-subsidized chests. We are now only providing chests to long-term corporate users on an annual subscription basis. These chests remain the property of the RFDS and users are billed once per annum a set fee which includes replenishment of chest contents throughout the year.
The subscription does not provide ownership of the scheduled poisons in the chest, nor an entitlement to dispense or consume them without an RFDS doctor’s authorization. The contents (which include a variety of prescription-only drugs under the Poison’s Act) are covered under the Poison’s Licence held by the RFDS.
Medical chests can also be hired for short-term periods at a monthly rate.
Under either arrangement, all non-subsidized users are obliged to adhere to the conditions of having a medical chest which include regular checking of contents, security of the chest, obtaining an RFDS doctor’s prescription to use scheduled poisons from the chest, and abiding by other relevant aspects of the Poison’s Act of WA and its Regulations.
Information on the annual subscription and hire rates can be obtained by contacting the Medical Chest Officer