National Pharmacy Association Feeds In Thoughts On Regulation To PRLOG, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 26 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The NPA has recently provided comments to the chair of PRLOG, Ken Jarrold, on the burden of regulation in community pharmacy, revalidation and CPD. The Group agreed to take these points into account.

As the burden of regulation on pharmacy is increasing there may be a case for streamlining the inspection regime and potentially reducing costs. Community pharmacy is inspected by the RPSGB inspectors and by PCTs/LHBs. In addition, if a pharmacy wishes to undertake private PGDs, it has to set up an independent medical agency and registration with the Healthcare Commission is required. PCT/LHB monitoring is variable - so if they are to undertake inspection there needs to be a national inspection template.

The NPA believes that revalidation for pharmacists should be more of a formative process, such as by portfolio compilation, rather than a summative process (examination). It needs to have a central framework and syllabus but could be locally administered. The issue of devolution needs to be addressed to ensure that pharmacists can continue to practise UK-wide.

Although the vast majority of pharmacists undertake CPD on a daily basis, many find it difficult to record this because of a lack of time during the busy working day. Statutory recording of CPD is now postponed until the establishment of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in January 2010. Given that so few pharmacists seem to have engaged with the current CPD recording regime, the NPA believes that the profession now has an opportunity in which to re-examine the current system. There is a need to develop a system that is easier and quicker to use, integrates better with the daily work of the pharmacist and is based on notes rather than detailed entries.

National Pharmacy Association