THE Pharmacy Practitioner Development Committee (PPDC) has confirmed it has received a request from the Pharmacy Board of Australia relating to proposals for prescribing by pharmacists.
The PPDC has agreed to assist the Board "to ensure a profession-wide position can be established," with the plan consistent with the Health Professionals Prescribing Pathway and taking into account NPS MedicineWise's Prescribing Competencies Framework.
A communique from the PPDC issued on Fri said work on the prescribing proposals would commence this year, with the aim of providing a coordinated and considered response.
The committee also announced the completion of a review of the profession's competency standards, with all PPDC member organisations endorsing the revised framework.
That means the framework, which is now being prepared for publication and release early this year, has been approved by the AACP, Australian College of Pharmacy, Australian Pharmacy Council, NAPSA, PDL, the PSDA, the Pharmacy Board of Australia, Professional Pharmacists Australia, the Guild and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.
The Pharmacy Board is funding a consultation with member organisations on the "needs and priorities of practice support tools for development and testing".
MEANWHILE the PPDC communique also confirmed "robust discussions" on options for future advanced practice recognition and credentialing," following the cessation of the national credentialing program for advance practice pharmacists last year (PD 13 Oct 2016).
The PPDC said it's committed to progressing further work as a priority "to support the continuation of this important professional initiative, and to enable interested pharmacists to apply as soon as possible in 2017".
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