Nile Protects Professional Pharmacies

The Rev Fred Nile, MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has supported the carriage of the Pharmacy Practice Bill through the NSW Upper House.

The Christian Democratic Party is pleased to support the Pharmacy Practice Bill, a very comprehensive bill that addresses a major main concern in the community and among those involved in the pharmacy business in New South Wales by prohibiting the co-location of pharmacies and supermarkets. There has been an ongoing debate about that issue and I am pleased the Government has resolved it with this bill.

The co-location of pharmacies and supermarkets could put pressure on pharmacists to maximise profits at the expense of professional standards, patient welfare, and the public interest with regard to the safe use of pharmaceuticals. We have watched supermarkets extend their businesses from retail into petrol. That is having a damaging effect on petrol stations across New South Wales, and it has forced a number of smaller independent operators out of business. I am pleased we will not face a similar problem with pharmacies.

The bill will give the Pharmacy Board of New South Wales power to ensure that pharmacists remain fit to practice and are professionally competent. The board will have certain powers. I foreshadow an amendment I will move in Committee that will endeavour to give it more powers. Under the existing legislation the board will have the power to require pharmacists to annually provide information on their continuing education activities. The board will also be empowered to suspend the registration of pharmacists where that action is required to protect the life or health of any person. The power to monitor continuing education activities will provide a valuable mechanism to address concern that some pharmacists are not taking appropriate steps to maintain their professional competence, and it is consistent with Acts that govern other health professions in New South Wales, including the Medical Practise Act.

This legislation will replace the Pharmacy Act 1966—a review was well overdue—and has been the subject of extensive consultation with stakeholders including the Pharmacy Guild, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the New South Wales Pharmacy Board and the Australian Friendly Societies Pharmacy Association. On 16 May 2006 Mr Si Benrimoj, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society [PSA] of Australia (New South Wales Branch) Ltd, wrote to me and suggested amendments to the legislation. Today I contacted Steven Drew, the Chief Executive Officer of the New South Wales branch of that association, who confirmed that it still wants me to move those amendments. The letter states:

The PSA NSW is the peak professional organisation for all pharmacists and assistants in New South Wales. PSA NSW provides advocacy and education to support all pharmacy professionals in improving the quality use of medicines and delivery of advanced patient care.

The PSA is very interested in the progress of the bill, is pleased it has been introduced, but is disappointed that one of its key recommendations has not been included. It states:

Specifically, the PSA NSW, strongly believes in the need for continuing education to be part of pharmacists to ensure competence and the provision of high quality service to consumers and public safety.

We are therefore exceptionally disappointed at the absence of provisions within the Bill which provide the Pharmacy Board with sufficient and proactive powers in this area. We firmly believe the safety of the community is compromised in the absence of this power in the proposed Bill.

The PSA makes a very valid point why it believes it should have this additional power. I constantly use medical sprays for asthma and I note the increased positive role that pharmacists play in providing advice as to how, and how often, I am to use the spray. Pharmacists have become more pro-active and are not just like a shop assistant who sells a product. They inquire within the range of their professional qualifications about the health of the consumer. The letter further states:

As you would be aware, the pharmacy profession is going through dramatic change as it takes on a more intensive and important role in community health care and promotion. This has resulted in a significant change in the role of pharmacists over recent times. The role of a pharmacist has moved on from simply dispensing pharmaceuticals to providing professional advice and services to the community on the quality use of medicines and disease management. Therefore, it is essential that pharmacists be required to maintain their level of knowledge and skills on a continuing basis so that the NSW community can be confident their pharmacist is providing them with the most current and relevant services on every occasion.

That is the basis on which the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, New South Wales Branch, seeks to obtain additional power and it is embodied in my foreshadowed amendments. The PSA also believes that what it seeks already applies in Victoria and Tasmania. However, from discussion with the Minister that is not completely accurate. The Acts in those States do not contain that additional power. The letter continues:

In staunchly advocating the reportable continuing education, the PSA NSW is not seeking to delay or disrupt the commencement of the Bill. Rather, we are aiming to avoid a situation where the safety of the community is compromised by pharmacists possessing sub-standard competencies. Quite simply, ensuring that continuing eduction is an on-going component of the pharmacist's professional life will increase community health and safety. Continuing education also makes it easier for a pharmacist to keep in contact with the profession and its developments, something which is of great importance when we have many pharmacists working by themselves, especially in rural and regional NSW.

I have no doubt that today a lot more is required of pharmacists, as important medications regularly become available which, if not fully understood by pharmacists, could cause harm to the health of the consumer. It is not just a matter of a general practitioner providing a script to the patient and the pharmacist dispensing the medication; a consumer must understand how to use the medication. Often medication is just a pill but medication for asthma involves following a number of directions to correctly use a spray and then take appropriate action after having used it.

One of my foreshadowed amendments deals with continuing professional education. One amendment deals with the board seeking a power to remove persons from the register in certain circumstances. I understand the Government is not prepared to give the board that power but I know why it is wanted. The Christian Democratic Party supports the bill, and is pleased it has been introduced.