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Letters to the Editor
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Reciprocal registration
Why can’t the Society stand up and be counted?
From Mr A. Bentley, MRPharmS, Mr A. T. Evans, MRPharmS
We are appalled at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s decision
to withdraw reciprocal registration with Australia and New Zealand, particularly
in light of the attempts to justify its action. The statement that the
Adjudicating Committee could be challenged in the courts alleging prejudice
against other overseas pharmacists is pathetic. Repicrocal agreements
are based on the fact that the model of pharmaceutical education and
health care systems in these countries closely mirrors that in the UK.
Now it would appear we are prepared to discriminate against all non-EU
pharmacists instead of just some.
In practical terms previously when pharmacists from these countries came
to the UK, they have been employed across a whole range of pharmaceutical
activities from day one, and at my hospital we have relied on them for
the past 10 years and their quality has generally been high.
The comment that we stop this arrangement, which has worked well to mutual
benefit for many years, because the Department of Health is not keen
beggars belief. Our political masters continue to tell us that the NHS
will fall apart without health care professionals from overseas, who
are essential.
The Adjudicating Committee, because of legislation, has approved the
registration of pharmacists from the EU in spite of their training and
health care systems which in many instances are significantly different
from that in the UK and also whose spoken English in relation to patients
and other health care staff may be problematical.
We suppose it is expecting too much for the Society to stand up and be
counted on this matter. We guess in the new world of today, where it
is necessary to do a risk assessment before deciding if it is safe to
get out of bed in the morning, this is the sort of perverse decision
that we expect.
Alan Bentley
Anthony Evans
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital
Margate,
Kent
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PHILIP GREEN, Director of Education and Registration, Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, responds:
The Society’s Council resolved to end all reciprocal
registration agreements, other than with Northern Ireland, in October
2003. At the April 2005 meeting the Council agreed on which date the
reciprocal registration agreements would end. The Council resolved that
it was essential
to set a date now for the ending of the reciprocity arrangements to
provide certainty for applicants who wish to apply by the current route.
It is in the interests of fairness and transparency that all pharmacists
who have qualified outside the UK, other than those qualifying under
the European
Directives, who wish to register with the Society follow the same route.
In Europe, the pharmacy, medical, dental and nursing and midwifery professions
are covered by Sectoral Directives. These directives which co-ordinate the
minimum training requirements for the award of designated qualifications
have been incorporated
into UK legislation. European nationals who have been awarded “appropriate
European diplomas” which comply with the minimum training requirements
as described in the relevant Directives are entitled to have their qualifications
recognised and to register with the relevant UK health care regulator. It is
not a function of the Adjudicating Committee.
The Department of Health provides guidance on employment of EEA nationals
which can be found on its website |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal