SA Health medicines committees

SA Health Statewide Medicines Committees'

South Australian Medicines Advisory Committee (SAMAC)

South Australian Medicines Advisory Committee (SAMAC) is SA Health’s leading medicines advisory committee, aiming to encourage the appropriate, equitable, safe, cost-effective and quality use of medicines in SA.

SAMAC is supported by a number of multidisciplinary expert committees and working groups, which provide stakeholders with opportunities for robust discussion, debate, and evaluation of medicines issues:

South Australian Formulary Committee (SAFC)

South Australian Formulary Committee (SAFC) aims to develop and maintain the South Australian Medicines Formulary, for use across SA Health to optimise the quality use of medicines, improve and promote equity of access to medicines for patients and increase the cost-effectiveness of medicine use.

South Australian expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (SAAGAR)

South Australian expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (SAAGAR) champions the adoption and funding of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, advises on the types of programs and components that will be most useful for participating hospitals and provides expert advice and interpretation of antimicrobial utilisation trends and usage.

South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel (SAMEP)

South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel (SAMEP) evaluates the cost and clinical effectiveness and safety of new medicines which are likely to have a significant impact on the SA public health system.

South Australian Medication Safety Advisory Group (SAMSAG)

The peak SA Health advisory group promoting the safe use of medicines in SA public hospitals. South Australian Medication Safety Advisory Group (SAMSAG) provides leadership and supports consistency and linkage between national and state agendas and action at the regional level to reduce the potential for medication-related errors.

SA Health Cancer Drug Committee (SAHCDC)

The SA Health Cancer Drug Committee (SAHCDC) is responsible to the South Australian Medicines Advisory Committee (SAMAC) for overseeing the development, approval and review of cancer chemotherapy protocols within SA Health Hospitals.

South Australian Psychotropic Drugs Committee (SAPDC)

The SA Psychotropic Drugs Committee (SAPDC) is responsible for providing independent advice to professions prescribing psychotropic medicines on rationale, use and practices related to pharmacological agents used in the treatment of psychiatric illness in South Australian health services.

South Australian Electronic Medication Management Committee (SAEMMC)

The SA Electronic Medication Management Committee provides clinical governance, supports the quality use of medicines, and promotes medication safety for electronic medication management systems in use within SA Health.

Hospital and Local Health Network-based Medicines Committees

All SA public hospitals are associated with a Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) or similar committee, which plays an active role in the consideration and oversight of medicines issues at either a hospital or Local Health Network level. In addition, many DTCs have a medication safety sub-committee with the specific remit of considering issues relating to medication safety.

Controlled Substances Advisory Council

The Controlled Substances Advisory Council (the Council) is established under section 6 of the Controlled Substances Act 1984. The Council keeps the Controlled Substances legislation under review to ensure it is relevant and effective.