139Regional access standards

### 139 Regional access standards > > (1)  The Secretary of the Department must issue a standard (the ***access standard***) setting out how the State intends to facilitate access to voluntary assisted dying for persons ordinarily resident in the State, including how the State intends to facilitate access by those persons to – > > > > > > (a) the services of medical practitioners and other persons who perform functions, or exercise powers, under this Act; and > > > > > > > (b) VAD substances for use under this Act; and > > > > > > > (c) information about access to voluntary assisted dying under this Act. > > > (2)  The access standard must specifically set out how the State intends to facilitate access to voluntary assisted dying for residents of the State who reside in a regional area. > > > (3)  The Secretary of the Department – > > > > > > (a) may amend or replace the access standard; and > > > > > > > (b) must publish the access standard on the Department’s website; and > > > > > > > (c) must include in the annual report, of the Department, under the [State Service Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-085) for a year, a report in relation to the steps taken by the Department during the year to meet the access standard.