New Competency Standards for Pharmacists

Australia’s peak pharmacy bodies have formally released a revised competency standards framework for pharmacists, which has been endorsed by all 11 member organisations of the Pharmacy Practitioner Development Committee (PPDC).

The new National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2016 is the outcome of a two-year project to review the previous document.  The work was funded by financial contributions of member organisations, along with matching funding from the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

The 2016 framework includes five sections:

1. Professionalism and ethics;
2. Communication and collaboration;
3. Medicines management and patient care;
4. Leadership and management; and
5. Education and research.

The Leadership and Management domain was significantly expanded and includes two standards “which are universally applicable to all pharmacists regardless of their role or place of practice.

The PPDC is currently working on the development of practice support tools for the implementation of the new framework, some of which will be funded by the pharmacy Board.  The Committee is also considering an appropriate transition timeframe, recognising that the current framework is well embedded across all facets of the profession, including pharmacists’ continuing professional development plans.

The Pharmacy Board & Australian Pharmacy Council will also determine an implementation date with respect to intern assessment.

More information can be found on advancedpharmacypractice.com.au.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Thursday 1 June 2017