THE Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) is seeking interest from practising pharmacists to inform the development of new Accreditation Standards for pharmacist prescriber training programs.
The Pharmacy Board of Australia has requested APC to undertake a project to develop the new standards, as part of the organisation's role and purpose as the independent accreditation body for pharmacy education.
APC CEO Bronwyn Clark said "accreditation standards for pharmacist prescriber training programs will ensure that pharmacists who complete an accredited and approved education program are competent to prescribe".
The Council's Stakeholder Reference group will provide expert advice and commentary to inform the development of the standards.
"Our consultation processes are thorough and will provide multiple opportunities for people to contribute," Clark said.
"To ensure a wide breadth of knowledge and advice, we've invited key stakeholders across the pharmacy profession, other prescribing professionals, education providers, accreditation councils and consumer groups to nominate representatives," she added.
Expressions of Interest are now open from practising pharmacists who wish to join the pivotal project, with three positions on the Stakeholder Reference Group, seeking professionals working across a variety of practice settings, geographical locations and representing a range of professional experience, Clark noted.
Development of accreditation standards will be informed by the NPS Prescribing Competencies Framework (2021) which describes the expectations for all health professional prescribers.
"The standards for training programs for pharmacists prescribers will ensure that pharmacists complete an accredited and approved education program and are competent to prescribe," according to the program's guidelines.
Associate Professor Sue Kirsa will oversee the work, with the stakeholder reference group being chaired by Professor Lisa Nissen.
A subject matter expert pharmacist will also undertake a literature review, environmental scan and competency mapping of pharmacist prescribing internationally and in Australia.
Invitations will be issued to a variety of other stakeholders including representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and Pharmaceutical Defence Limited.
First Nations consumer and patient representatives will also be invited to participate, along with an Australian state or territory Chief Pharmacist.
Applications to join the stakeholder reference group are open until 13 Jan, with submissions to be done via a form which is available by CLICKING HERE.
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