New York State’s Certificate of Need (CON) program for syringes and needles is administered by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to regulate the distribution of hypodermic syringes and needles in order to protect public health and prevent misuse. 

Under this program, educational institutions must obtain state approval before purchasing and using syringes and needles at RPI. This requirement applies to programs where syringes are used in laboratory courses, clinical simulations, or health-related education outside of licensed medical practice. As part of the CON process, institutions must demonstrate a legitimate educational need, describe how the syringes will be used, stored, and secured, and outline procedures for inventory control, supervision, and proper disposal to prevent diversion or misuse. The program provides regulatory oversight while allowing educational institutions to access syringes and needles necessary for research, ensuring their use aligns with state public health and safety objectives.