National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) (Conditions of approval for approved pharmacists) Determination 2007
National Health Act 1953
I, TONY ABBOTT, Minister for Health and Ageing, make this Determination under paragraph 92A (1) (f) of the National Health Act 1953.
Dated 21 August 2007
TONY ABBOTT
Minister for Health and Ageing
  
  
1              Name of Determination
         (1)   This Determination is the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) (Conditions of approval for approved pharmacists) Determination 2007.
         (2)   This Determination may also be cited as Determination No. PB 42 of 2007.
2              Commencement
                This Determination commences on the day after it is registered.
3              Revocation
                Determination No. PB 16 of 1995 made by the Minister on 10 November 1995 under paragraph 92A (1) (f) of the National Health Act 1953 is revoked.
4              Purpose
                For paragraph 92A (1) (f) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act), this Determination sets out conditions that apply to the approval of a person as an approved pharmacist for the purposes of Part VII of the Act (including an approval granted before the commencement of section 92A of the Act and an approval of a person or body referred to in section 83Z of the Act).
Note   Under subsection 84 (1) of the Act, approved pharmacist means a person for the time being approved under section 90 of the Act and includes:
(a)   a person treated as having been so approved under any provision of a law of the Commonwealth other than section 91 of the Act; and
(b)   except so far as subsection 90 (3) of the Act is concerned — a person treated as having been so approved under section 91 of the Act.
5              Standards of practice
                An approved pharmacist must, in dispensing prescriptions for pharmaceutical benefits and in supplying pharmaceutical benefits:
                (a)    comply with all legal requirements for the practice of pharmacy; and
               (b)    treat patients with dignity regardless of manner of payment, race, sex, age, nationality, religion, disability or any other factor; and
                (c)    comply with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Code of Professional Conduct, as existing when this section commences; and
               (d)    comply with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards, as existing when this section commences, in relation to each patient, subject to the patient’s preparedness to:
                          (i)    ensure that the pharmacist has ready access to the patient’s medication history; and
                         (ii)    provide relevant personal medical information necessary for the pharmacist to individualise patient care; and
                         (iii)    authorise medical practitioners and other health care practitioners to release relevant medical information necessary for the pharmacist to act responsibly and reasonably and to individualise patient care; and
                        (iv)    allow the pharmacist sufficient time to dispense medications; and
                         (v)    follow advice and directions given by the patient’s medical practitioner or pharmacist and report any unusual or adverse reactions as soon as possible; and
                (e)    maintain a disciplined dispensing procedure that includes:
                          (i)    attention to accuracy of product or ingredient selection; and
                         (ii)    accuracy of calculations; and
                         (iii)    application of accepted techniques for the preparation of pharmaceutical products; and
                        (iv)    appropriate packaging and storage; and
                         (v)    accuracy of the final product; and
                        (vi)    adequate information for the patient.
Examples for subparagraph (d) (i) of ways of ensuring that a pharmacist has ready access to a patient’s medication history
·         Having all prescriptions dispensed at a single pharmacy
·         Providing the pharmacist with a patient‑held medication record form from another pharmacy or a prescriber
·         Authorising the transfer of the patient’s medication history from another pharmacy.
Note   The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Practice Standards are available on the Internet at www.psa.org.au.
6              Continuing education
                An approved pharmacist must maintain the currency of his or her pharmaceutical knowledge in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003, as existing when this section commences.
Note   The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003 are available on the Internet at www.psa.org.au.
7              Other pharmacists at pharmacy
                A person who is an approved pharmacist in respect of a pharmacy at particular premises must ensure that a pharmacist:
                (a)    who is not an approved pharmacist; and
               (b)    who supplies pharmaceutical benefits at or from those premises;
complies with the conditions set out in sections 5 and 6.