Network Against Prohibition (NAP) hopeful of resolution in S8 scandal
Members of the Network Against Prohibition are hopeful that the emergency faced by the 40 S8 patients of Dr Henry Pang will be resolved today at a meeting of the Medical Board of the NT.
The Medical Board is expected to deal with a complaint regarding the conduct of the NT Chief Health Officer, Doctor Shirley Hendy. The complaint, submitted by NAP, alleges that the Chief Health Officer has acted with a lack of care and judgement and that she is guilty of unprofessional conduct.
The complaint relates to the prohibition of Dr Henry Pang’s license to prescribe Schedule 8 drugs with only two weeks notice. Dr Pang’s forty patients have been left in the lurch with no access to any opiate maintenance treatment and the only option being detoxification and withdrawal.
NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “the Medical Board needs to act on this issue. Dr Pang needs to have his S8 license restored to enable him to treat his patients to the best of his knowledge and ability.”
“In the medium term, the NT Government needs to move away from the zero tolerance approach to illicit drugs. Drugs are a social issue and a health issue, not a criminal or legal one.”
“Dr Hendy and Dr Pang would not be in this position if the Labor party hadn’t dragged its feet on the issue of pharmacotherapies for dependent drug users. Government interference has forced both Doctors to the wall on this issue.”
For further information call Gary on 0415 16 2525 or view the following websites:
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