Government's Response To The Pharmacy Order 2009 Consultation - National Pharmacy Association Responds

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 17 Jun 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The NPA has the following initial comments to make on the Government's response to the Pharmacy Order 2009 consultation, which came out today.

The NPA's key concerns in relation to regulation are to ensure high quality pharmacy practice, avoid duplication of regulation, and see community pharmacy on a level playing field with other primary care providers. We therefore welcome commitments to:

- Map existing practice standards to avoid duplication
- Achieve clarity between the roles of the local health organisation responsible for delivery and the national regulator
- Develop a Memoranda of Understanding with other inspection bodies.

There is much detail still to be resolved on how the GPhC will operate, and we urge the Council to be cognisant of the key concerns set out above.

There will be 14 members of the General Pharmaceutical Council - and the DH has determined that there will be no reserved places linked to sector experience. The NPA is concerned that in an attempt to reflect a diverse profession, it is possible that expertise on community pharmacy (representing the work of 70% of the profession) may be deficient on the General Pharmaceutical Council. The appointment process is underway and we call on the chair designate (soon to be announced) to ensure that the Council has within its members adequate understanding and experience of the practice of community pharmacy.

The DH has decided not to implement a statutory health committee. We will be calling on the GPhC, once formed, to operate a non-statutory health committee, to ensure that practitioners whose performance is impaired through ill health receive appropriate support and understanding, rather than being subjected to the full weight of the disciplinary mechanisms.

Source
National Pharmacy Association