PSNI remains to be convinced about GB merger
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland remains to be convinced that a merger with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will ensure the most effective provision of future regulation, Raymond Blaney, director of the PSNI, told its members at its annual general meeting last week.
Launching the PSNI’s consultation (PDF 1.3 MB) on the Foster
review to its members, Mr Blaney said that the PSNI has always enjoyed
great
relationships
with
the Society and other health care regulatory bodies. However, he added
that it is not clear how the proposed merger would satisfy any better
than the current operation the objective of securing the right organisational
structure for ensuring that health professionals are effectively regulated
to safeguard patients.
“I remain to be convinced that the costs of the merger, the establishment
of national pharmacy boards, the work to define the role of the UK Pharmaceutical
Society, the costs of divesting assets, the legislative work involved
and the time concentrated on this work is truly going to benefit patient
care or be the cheaper option,” he told members.
On the suggested tension between the PSNI’s regulatory and professional
leadership functions, Mr Blaney said that there has been no question
of impropriety on its part in this regard.
“We have always integrated the professional duties very effectively
into our regulatory standards and protocols, and there is no ambiguity
that
public safety remains at the core of our function,” he said. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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