Section 60 threatens professional support
Plans for the future regulation of pharmacy by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will lead to a reduction in the Society's professional and supportive roles.
This is the view of the Institute of Pharmacy Management International set out in its response to the Government's consultation on the proposed Section 60 Order (PJ, 1 April, p371).
The IPMI says that the Society has a good record as a regulator across
all areas of practice and investigates proportionately more members than
either the General Medical Council or the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
It also says that the Society’s regulatory cost per member is double
that of the GMC and NMC and that costs will rise.
The IPMI adds that pharmacy is unique among health professions in that
pharmacy businesses are also regulated and, yet, there is no facility
to warn the public when a business is performing poorly and that this
could be more important than for a poorly performing pharmacist. It proposes
a separate disciplinary committee to deal with business offences.
The IPMI shares the Society’s view that registration as a pharmacist
and Society membership should remain linked. It is concerned that breaking
the link could lead to additional costs. It says that if the proposal
is serious, then it should be considered separately and with proper debate
and that if
carried through, then the profession’s
resources should be retained for the benefit of members.
The IPMA also believes that the proposed definition of a practising pharmacist
is over-restrictive and that the proposals for continuing professional
development have cost implications that must be funded. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader