Scope of Practice

As custodians of medicine, pharmacy professionals are expected to be highly responsible people. The various levels of responsibility for each of the pharmacy professional levels are outlined clearly in the legislation.

All pharmacy professionals should be familiar with the Rules relating to Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and the Regulations relating to the practice of pharmacy (Practice Regulations). The Practice Regulations clearly outline the scope of practice for each level of pharmacy professional, from Pharmacist’s Assistant (Learner Basic) to Responsible Pharmacist, and everything in between.

The disciplinary committees of Council have identified an increasing trend in the number of complaints received relating to pharmacists failing to adequately supervise pharmacy support personnel, and pharmacy support personnel acting outside of their scope of practice. Council implores all pharmacy professionals to review the relevant scopes of practice and to familiarise themselves with the limitations of each.

Responsible Pharmacists are especially reminded to familiarise themselves with the different scopes of practice and to ensure that systems and processes are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation.

Avoid being charged with unprofessional conduct. Know your scope of practice and your duties and responsibilities. Always ensure you and your colleagues act within the law.

Dispensing of Prescriptions

Pharmacy professionals are further reminded of the three (3) phases of dispensing as outlined in Rule 2.7 of the GPP being the Minimum Standards for dispensing medicine or scheduled substances on the prescription of an authorised prescriber. Rule 2.7.1 identifies the dispensing procedures.

All complaints referred to the Office of the Registrar in respect of dispensing errors will be assessed and referred to the disciplinary committees of Council. In circumstances where the pharmacist and/or the pharmacy support personnel are charged with unprofessional conduct due to a dispensing error in respect of the failure to follow the correct dispensing process, Council may impose hefty fines and/or other sanctions. Where serious dispensing errors have occurred, the pharmacy professionals will be referred to the Committee of Formal Inquiry, which may recommend to Council the removal or suspension of the name of the pharmacy professional from the register.

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