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This project
was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing as part of the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement Research
and Development Program. (1)
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the custodian of this
document on behalf of the pharmacy profession and any comments
about the document should be sent to PSA. The document will undergo
a formal review process every five years which will involve extensive
stakeholder consultation.
This updated
document is considerably larger than the previous version and
has been expanded to include a much larger scope of practice of
pharmacy.
It is intended that the document will be used by industry, government,
pharmacy schools, registering authorities and related organisations
when constructing procedures and standards of practice and assessment
that involve the practice of pharmacy in Australia.
The following organisation have formally endorsed the document
and will be utilizing the material in their organisations- Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia (PSA), Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities
Inc. (COPRA), Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP),
Australian College of Pharmacy Practice (ACPP), Association of
Professional Engineer, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA),
Committee of Heads of Pharmacy Schools in Australia and New Zealand
(CHPSANZ), Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management (AIPM),
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA).
Section 1.2
of this document outlines the inter-relationship potential of
the Competency Standards and the professional standards and the
main messages are " Competency can be described as skills,
attitudes and other attributes (including values and beliefs)
attained by an individual based on knowledge (gained through study
at bachelor's degrees level at least at university) and experience
(gained through subsequent practice) which together are considered
sufficient to enable the individual to practice as a pharmacist.
On the other hand, professional standards relate to the systems,
procedures and information used by individuals to achieve a level
of conformity and uniformity for a given practice.
The attainment of a professional qualification versus the practice
of pharmacy to a set of professional standards highlights the
difference between the two types of standards." (1)
The application
of these two different types of standards is clearly demonstrated
in the material that has been developed by the professional organisations
in relation to Emergency Hormonal Contraception. To ensure all
pharmacists are competent in their knowledge and understanding
of the pharmacology and physiology of contraception, the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia produced an array of excellent material.
This included the Essential CPE booklet entitled "Contraception",
an article in the "I must see the Pharmacist" section
of the December Australian Pharmacist entitled "Emergency
Contraception", a more comprehensive article in the January
Australian Pharmacist entitled " Emergency Contraception-issues
of deregulation" .
PSA also produced a laminated copy of a supply protocol for pharmacists
to follow when asked to supply emergency hormonal contraception
and issued a position statement for Pharmacists entitled "Ethical
Issues in declining supply" to give guidance to the members
of the profession who face ethical dilemmas with supplying this
medication.
Whilst these are not professional standards they are professional
guidelines and position statements of the professional body that
represents all pharmacists in Australia.
PSA also developed
a comprehensive training package for all of its branches to use
to deliver training to both PSA members and non-members to ensure
that all pharmacists were able to update and enhance their knowledge
in the area of contraception.
Knowledge is one part of ensuring competency and hopefully by
participating in the workshops and discussion groups planned by
the branches members will be able to gain experience in counseling
customers requesting information on contraception issues.
Whilst it is impossible for all members to access these workshops
and discussion groups, many branches are providing telecasts to
regional areas as well as a video version of the metropolitan
workshops to enable members who cannot attend to conduct their
own workshops with their staff and peers
The Pharmacy
Guild of Australia adopted onto its website for members the excellent
material produced by a conjoint working party of the Family Planning
Association of Western Australia and the Pharmaceutical Council
of WA.
The move from
S4 to S3 of levonorgestrol and many other drugs over the coming
months will mean that the profession will have to prove to its
allied health colleagues e.g. Doctors, that we have the systems
in place to ensure we practice as competent and knowledgeable
health professionals.
It is a time to stand up and make these health professionals aware
that we are not just retailers and shop keepers and our staff
are not 'shop girls' or 'checkout chicks'.
This is a time to give our profession a fantastic boost in the
professional ability stakes in the health arena and I hope that
the pessimists and doomsday brigade take a long hard look at what
you are saying as you are shooting pharmacy in the foot once again!!
References:
1. "Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003"-Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia- 01 November 2003
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