Accreditation under fire
August 12, 2015
Health ministers from across
Australia say they’re concerned
about a range of issues relating
to the “high cost, lack of scrutiny,
duplication and the prescriptive
approach to accreditation
functions” highlighted in a review
of the National Registration and
Accreditation Scheme for Health
Professions.
The COAG Health Council met
on Fri and considered the report
into the review conducted by Kim
Snowball, the former directorgeneral
of WA Health.
A series of recommendations
from the report will go
“some way” to improving the
accreditation arrangements -
including a consolidated fee
structure and processes - but
the ministers believe “more
substantive reform” is needed.
The Australian Pharmacy
Council said it believes it is “well
on the way” to meeting the
challenges highlighted.
In a statement issued yesterday
APC president Debra Rowett
said a recent organisational
restructure and efficiency review
had been undertaken, along with
a review of fee structures.
“From January 2016 providers
with more than one university
program will be charged less,” she
said with intern training program
fees unchanged since 2010
and the fee structure for CPD
providers having been adjusted
to reflect the audit and support
work required (PD 23 Jul).
The APC also corrected some
figures in the review, relating
particularly to the cost of the
Intern Written Exam which is
conducted by APC on behalf of
the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Pharmacy was ranked second
out of the 14 Australian health
professions in terms of the cost
per program, but this is incorrect
because the Intern exam is
unique to pharmacy, and is
responsible for more than a third
of expenditure, Rowett said.
“This has not been considered
in the comparative analysis
undertaken,” she added.
Going forward the APC will
actively consult with stakeholders
to make accreditation processes
accountable, achieve improved
health outcomes and “create an
environment in which excellence
can flourish”.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Aug 15To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 Aug 15
