AHPRA faces challenges
July 19, 2010
AHPRA is calling for industry
patience as it begins to implement
a series of ‘solutions’ designed to deal
with its start-up “teething problems”.
According to a statement from the
board, the set up of a new national
registration and accreditation system
was “ambitious” and solutions to
start-up problems may take time to
come into effect.
AHPRA has identified both its
limited ability to respond to 3000
daily enquiries, as well as some IT
issues (including the movement of
practitioner records from 85 sources
to a single integrated system) as the
major pressure points currently
effecting healthcare professionals
in relation to the new system.
Solutions to these issues include
increasing the number of AHPRA
enquiry staff to deal with incoming
calls, intensifying IT staff training
and introducing a web-based
contact form as a new method of
contact- separate from the general
enquiries phone number.
“AHPRA’s focus is to support the
national boards in their core role of
protecting the public,” said
Pharmacy Board Chair, Steve Marty.
“Our priority is to ensure the
accuracy and completeness of the
10 national registers; respond
effectively to enquiries from registrants,
the public and employers; and
ensure the integrity of their processes.
“AHPRA has expressed regret
that these issues have caused
frustration.
“It understands that delays are
not acceptable,” Marty added.
AHPRA has said that it expects by
early next week to have doubled its
number of enquiry staff whose “sole
priority is to respond effectively to
enquiries, in a timely way”.
AHPRA is also fast tracking the
publication of additional forms,
whilst new registration forms are
being progressively uploaded onto
the Board websites.
Some of the changes, including
the implementation of the webbased
enquiry form are set to take
place this week, whilst others,
according to AHPRA, will take
“some time” to come into effect.
For more information see
www.pharmacyboard.gov.au.
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