Pharmacist numbers up 2.6%
November 9, 2015
With more than 637,218 health
practitioners registered to practise
in Australia at the end of June
this year, 29,014 are practising
pharmacists, up 2.6% from the
previous year, according to data
published in the annual report from
the Australian Health Practitioner
Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The report stated that for the
pharmacy profession there were
246 notifications (concerns/
complaints) received about
practitioners - excluding NSW where
there is a co-regulatory system.
Of 323 notifications closed in
the period, no further action was
warranted in 147 cases, conditions
were imposed on practitioners’
registration in 43 cases and
cautions issued in 106 cases.
Tribunals, on referral of matters
from the Board, determined that
a pharmacist’s registration be
suspended or cancelled in six cases.
Registration standards were
revised during the year (PD 02
Nov), guidelines were updated and
the Pharmacy Board of Australia
engaged with stakeholders around
opportunities for pharmacists to
administer vaccines to the public.
Pharmacy Board of Australia chair
William Kelly said public assurance
and proportionate regulation
remained the Board’s focus.
“We strive to continually improve
patient safety and the quality of
pharmacists’ regulation,” he said.
A report presenting the data
specific to pharmacy practice will
be published on the Pharmacy
Board of Australia’s website before
the end of the calendar year.
Kelly also acknowledged Adjunct
Associate Professor Stephen Marty,
the inaugural chair of the Board
until 30 Aug 2015, for assisting the
Board in meeting its objectives and
responsibilities in 2014/15.
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