6Purpose and objects of Principles

6 Purpose and objects of Principles

(1) These are the Principles to be applied by the Minister in exercising his or her powers under section 23DN of the Act: (a) to approve in principle premises as an accredited pathology laboratory; and (b) to refuse to approve premises as an accredited pathology laboratory; and (c) to vary or revoke an approval in relation to premises. (2) The objects of these Principles are to: (a) support the diagnosis and treatment of illness in the community by providing medicare benefits in relation to pathology services which provide reliable results; and (b) reduce the risk of misdiagnosis through misleading results being provided by pathology services which do not provide reliable results; and (c) maintain public confidence in pathology services which provide reliable results; and (d) protect limited public funds available for medicare benefits by only providing medicare benefits in relation to pathology services which are reliable; and (e) ensure that, as far as practicable, premises will be approved in principle, and will remain approved under section 23DN of the Act, for the kind of pathology services and for the category, only if it is established with a high level of confidence that the pathology services to be provided, or provided, at the premises meet, and can be expected to continue to meet, relevant standards for those kinds of services and for that category.