Address of the President to Annual Meeting

Date: 17 October 2005

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has called on the government to ensure that patient safety and the protection of the public top the agenda when formulating a modern statutory framework through the new Pharmacy Act. The Pharmaceutical Society is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the profession and practice of Pharmacy in . Speaking at the Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference, Dr Ann Frankish said that pharmacists have a key role to play in the development of an effective healthcare system. 

“The new framework must ensure the highest level of collaboration with other statutory bodies and agencies as appropriate in the interests of patient safety and public protection.  We have to focus on public protection and patient safety and ensure a high quality, safe pharmacy service.  This requires a new modern statutory framework which supports proactive monitoring of professional standards,” said Dr Frankish.

Dr Frankish said that the Society, the statutory regulator, is committed to working with the Tanaiste and the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive Pharmacy Act, addressing the range of issues necessary to effectively regulate in the public interest. “Pharmacy has arrived at a critical juncture, not only in, but in most developed health care systems internationally. Pharmacists have a key role to play in the development of our healthcare system. There are important discussions to be engaged in as to the future and further development of the profession.”

The Pharmaceutical Society is calling for a new Pharmacy Act which brings about the provision of a system of renewable fixed period licensing for all pharmacies, irrespective of where they are located or operate from, based on a series of quality and safety.

Speaking with regard to fitness to practice in pharmacy, Dr Frankish said that the new Act should introduce a disciplinary process with which to investigate and if necessary impose sanctions on any pharmacists or pharmacies engaged in professional misconduct. Coupled with the revised licensing system, this will ensure a comprehensive regulatory framework to protect the public interest and facilitate high quality service in the prevailing operational environment of Irish pharmacy and health services.

With regard to its own governance, the Pharmaceutical Society is proposing an independent professionally led model of governance with a strong representation of non-pharmacists as the most appropriate means of fulfilling its obligations to protect the public interest.

Concluding, Dr Frankish said: “Pharmacists must continue to clearly and unambiguously operate in the patient and public interest.  Every pharmacist must have regard to evidence based best practice and apply such in an open and transparent way.  We have to focus all we do on public protection and patient safety.  This requires a new modern statutory framework which supports proactive monitoring of professional standards.”