Ending of reciprocal registration “a disaster”
The decision by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to end reciprocal arrangements with Australia has been dubbed “a disaster” by the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Brian Grogan.
Mr Grogan is quoted in this month’s issue of Australian Pharmacist,
the PSA’s professional journal, saying: “It’s outrageous
that they expect us to do another two years’ study to be allowed
to register in the UK.”
Immediate past president of the PSA, Jay Hooper, adds: “Australians
won’t go over there under those conditions, and nor should they.” He
says that Britain should take a more pragmatic view and look at alternative
options similar to those used by the Australian Pharmacy Examining Council
to evaluate overseas pharmacists.
The bodies responsible for reciprocal agreements in Australia, the Council
of Pharmacy Registering Authorities and APEC, are currently developing
a new process for registration of overseas pharmacists (PJ, 2 July, p11).
This is likely to involve a screening examination, to be completed overseas,
plus at least four weeks of supervised practice in Australia. It will
be open to pharmacists from all countries with comparable accreditation
or quality assurance.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: “Discussions
are ongoing with the countries affected by the end of reciprocal registration
agreements to ensure that methods are developed to have properly evaluated
processes for people to access this country and vice versa.” |
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