Remote supervision moves a step closer under Health Act 2006

Remote supervision by a responsible pharmacist and pharmacy contracts linked to OTC sales can both now become law, following the publication of the Health Act 2006.

Dealing with supervision, the Act sets out the core principles that a pharmacist may not be responsible for more than one premises at a time, and that the name and registration number of the responsible pharmacist must be on display. But it is left to the health minister to regulate for changes to the current supervision requirements, including setting the terms for any exceptional circumstances to the rule, the qualifications and experience needed for a pharmacist to be deemed responsible, the responsible pharmacist's permitted absence from the pharmacy, and supervision during such absences.

This part of the Act also covers the management and use of controlled drugs, allowing PCTs to nominate or appoint a person to support this aim and to inspect CD stocks and records.

All this comes about because the High Street chemist no longer believes that his talents and skills are being effectively used in safely dispensing medicines to patients.   That, he states, can now be safely left to qualified technicians.  The very same technicians who have been employed in the dispensaries of the dispensing doctors for many years.  Indeed, it was the original Dispensing Doctors Association which fought tooth and nail against pharmacy opposition to ensure that they were able to produce a satisfactory course to train their technicians.   At this time, the High Street pharmacy technicians were not expected to be qualified.

Readers will recall that several years ago the National Pharmacy Association unveiled a still ongoing publicity campaign, "Ask your pharmacist - you'll be taking good advice".   It rather looks as though in future the British public will be fortunate indeed if they find a chemist in the High Street when next they call.   They may all be on the golf course or acting as "Bare Foot doctors", instead.

Pharmacy needs to take stock over Foster report

Measures to introduce remote supervision in pharmacy have been influenced by a government drive to cut costs, believes Mark Koziol, Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) chairman. “This is why we do not believe the answer is to have a government-appointed Council,” he has warned ahead of the PDA’s official response to the Foster report.

The PDA’s response, when it is made in full before the November 10 consultation cut-off date, is likely to draw heavily on the need to maintain a democratically appointed Council (C+D, July 22, p4). Mr Koziol said: “Where government interest conflicts with the public interest, the Society could challenge it. But if there is a government-appointed Council, and a government-friendly Council, then there’s a danger that it could look after the government interest.”

The PDA response is also likely to highlight the need to allow experienced pharmacists to have input on fitness to practise cases, and its concern that giving employers statutory powers in the form of revalidation could further impact on employee rights.

  (28/7/06)