1. Pharmacy Board of Australia Update
Bill Kelly
Chair, Pharmacy Board of Australia
September 2016

2. I want to give you …..
some background information on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme and the Board and it’s role and responsibilities;
the latest pharmacist workforce statistics;
a summary of what we’ve done in the last 12 months;
some idea of what’s in the pipeline; and
a taste of what may be in store for health regulators in the future.

4. What is the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme?
A single, national regulatory system for registered health professions - 14 health profession boards - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Discuss the value of a public register – patients, employers, referrers etc. can check a pharmacist’s registration status, conditions on registration etc.

5. Mobility: Health practitioners once registered can practise anywhere in Australia
Efficiency: streamlined, effective
Collaboration: sharing, learning and understanding between professions
Ground breaking: Watched internationally by other jurisdictions

6. Regulated health professions
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health practice Chinese medicine practice Chiropractic Dental practice Medical radiation practice Medical Nursing and midwifery
Occupational therapy
Optometry
Osteopathy
Pharmacy
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Psychology
Pharmacy in scheme since it started in July Four professions joined in 2012: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health practice, Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice, occupational therapy. Over 630,000 health practitioners registered.

7. What is AHPRA? Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Provides support and administration services to National Boards and committees
Operates in each state and territory and has a national office in Melbourne
Employs staff and enters into contracts on behalf of Boards
Manages the online registers of practitioners

8. Who does what? Pharmacy Board of Australia
Made up of practitioner and community members appointed by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council
Is the regulatory decision-maker for pharmacists
Sets national registration standards, codes and guidelines
Decides who is registered as a pharmacist

9. Who does what? Pharmacy Board of Australia
Oversees the assessment of overseas-trained pharmacists
Reviews and conducts investigations where necessary into notifications (complaints) made by the public or other health professionals
Manages panel hearings
Approves accredited programs of study that lead to registration

10. Pharmacy Board of Australia
Our vision
Safe and quality healthcare delivered by competent pharmacists
Our mission
To regulate pharmacists in the public interest
Our values include
Acting in the interest of public health and safety
Promoting safety and quality in health practice
Making fair and just decisions
Enjoy getting out and about and meeting members of the pharmacy community. Board holds two interstate meetings a year to meet local pharmacists and stakeholders.

11. Regulatory principles
Underpin the work of the Boards and AHPRA
Shape our thinking about regulatory decision-making
Encourage a responsive, risk-based approach to regulation
In all areas of our work we:
identify the risks that we are obliged to respond to
assess the likelihood and possible consequences of the risks, and
respond in ways that are proportionate and manage risks so we can adequately protect the public.
Applies to all regulatory decision-making.

12. Regulatory principles
Take home messages:
We use the minimum regulatory force appropriate to manage the risk posed by practitioners and their practice to protect the public.
Our actions are designed to protect the public and not to punish practitioners.
Summaries of tribunal decisions are published on Board websites. Most read information.

13. Obligations of a registered pharmacist
As per the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory. Because of these practitioner obligations, the public can be safe in the knowledge that they are seeing a registered pharmacist. Online register allows the public to check. Key obligations pharmacists might not be aware of: notify Board of changes to PPP, notify in writing within 7 days if charged with or convicted of an offence punishable by 12 months jail or more

14. Workforce statistics
As at 30 June 2016 Registration type and sub type by principal place of practice
Registration type
ACT
NSW NT
QLD SA
TAS
VIC WA
No PPP
Total
General
465
8316
202
5348
1973
652
6677
2963
353
26948
Provisional 36
598 13
379
121 40
390
145 5
1727
Limited – postgraduate training or supervised practice 2 1  3 1 7
Non-practising 15
255
116 48 8
290 54
247
1035
516
9,171
217
5,819
2,142
701
7,360
3,163
601
29,717
Latest statistics publicly available. Next statistics report to be published on Board website soon. As at 30 June – 83 more pharmacists registered.
Female pharmacists – 61.35% (majority in NSW) Male pharmacists – 38.65% (majority in NSW) at March 2016

15. Registration by age group
Female pharmacists – 61.35% (majority in NSW) Male pharmacists – 38.65% (majority in NSW) at March 2016

16. Highlights from 2014/15 annual report
29,014 registered pharmacists in Australia on 30 June 2015
Stakeholder engagement on opportunities for pharmacists to administer vaccines
31% of registered pharmacists are based in New South Wales, 25% are based in Victoria
238 pharmacy registrants under active monitoring on 30 June 2015, including 38% due to suitability/eligibility and 27% due to conduct issues
Finalised guidelines on compounding
of medicines and professional practice profile for pharmacists undertaking complex compounding
Funded the development of an examiner training program
5% decrease in number of notifications received about registered pharmacists compared to 2013/14
Of the 323 notifications closed in 2014/15 (excluding New South Wales), 45% were concluded following an assessment and 37% following an investigation
490 notifications received about registered pharmacists – 1.7% of registrants
2.59% increase in number of registered pharmacists compared to 2013/14
In 43% of notifications closed (excluding New South Wales), no further action was required
61.6% of registered pharmacists are aged under 40
11 immediate actions cases, compared to 19 in 2013/14
Stakeholder engagement on opportunities for pharmacists to administer vaccines
Funded the development of an examiner training program
Finalised guidelines on compounding of medicines and professional practice profile for pharmacists undertaking complex compounding
Next AHPRA and National Boards annual report for 2015/16 to be released in November.

17. Highlights for 2015/16 annual report
29,717 registered pharmacists in Australia on 30 June 2016
13 new Statutory Offences relating to title protection or advertising concerns
31% of registered pharmacists are based in New South Wales, 25% are based in Victoria
178 pharmacy registrants under active monitoring on 30 June 2015, including 38% due to suitability/eligibility and 27% due to conduct issues
Reviewed and updated all registration standards including PII and CPD plus all guidelines including compounding of medicines and CPD
Funded the review of the profession’s competency standards
A 16.3% increase in number of notifications received about registered pharmacists compared to 2014/15
New resources for students and graduates including videos, pathway diagrams and improved website functionality
570 notifications received about registered pharmacists – 1.9% of registrants
2.4% increase in number of registered pharmacists compared to 2014/15
In 46.8% of notifications closed (excluding New South Wales), no further action was required
62.1% of registered pharmacists are aged under 40
7,280 registered pharmacy students, a decrease of 1.5% from previous year
Stakeholder engagement on opportunities for pharmacists to administer vaccines
Funded the development of an examiner training program
Finalised guidelines on compounding of medicines and professional practice profile for pharmacists undertaking complex compounding
Next AHPRA and National Boards annual report for 2015/16 to be released in November.

18. Some changes from 2014/15 data
2.4% increase in number of registered practitioners (a smaller increase than from 2013/14)
4.5% decrease in the number of provisional registrants (interns)
2.9% increase in the number of non-practising registrants
7,280 pharmacy students represents a 1.5% decrease

19. Snapshot of Board’s work in 2015/16
Consultations
Review of guidance on expiry of compounded parenteral medicines
Guidelines
CPD
for dispensing of medicines
on practice-specific issues
on specialised supply arrangements, and
on responsibilities of pharmacists when practicising as proprietors.
Revised standards
English language skills
Criminal history
Continuing professional development
Recency of practice
Supervised practice arrangements
Examinations for eligibility for general registration
Professional indemnity insurance arrangements

20. Snapshot of Board’s work in 2015/16
New requirements
Professional indemnity insurance arrangements
Applies to all pharmacists (except non-practising)
Policies to have retroactive cover and automatic reinstatement
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Planning annual CPD to help identify areas of scope of practice in need of further development
Board hosting a webinar on CPD next week which is fully booked for participants. The webinar will be recorded and published on the Board’s website about two weeks later.

21. Board CPD post-2017 ?

22. Snapshot of Board’s work in 2015/16
Resources for students and graduates
Information video
PowerPoint presentations about requirements for registration and regulation of the profession
Diagram on pathway to general registration
Refreshed internship webpage
Improved navigation from homepage

23. Future focus Prescribing Notification analysis Tribunal decisions
Health Professionals Prescribing Pathway
NPS prescribing competencies
Endorsement of registration for scheduled medicines
Guidelines?
Notification analysis
‘Preventative’ regulation
Trend analysis
Tribunal decisions
Publishing on Board’s website for educational purposes

25. Regulation in the future
Issues and trends
NRAS workforce mobility
How else can pharmacists contribute to delivery of services in the public interest?
How can the pharmacy workforce develop to be flexible, responsive and innovative in the delivery of services to the public?
What education and training is required?
Is regulatory action required to enable this?
(objectives and guiding principles of the National Law)

26. Critical workforce issues relevant to practitioner regulation
Flexible, sustainable and responsive workforce capability
Improved health workforce data
Proportionate risk based regulation
Innovation and flexibility in education and training
Inter-professional regulatory approaches

27. Challenges to regulation in the future
Expanded or shifted scopes of practice
endorsement of registration e.g prescribing
Science and technology developments
pharmacy robotics
Workforce size, skills and knowledge
use of pharmacy assistants, ‘tech checks’
International considerations
Cross professional, integrated care (navigator roles)
Educating the right workforce
Inter-professional learning
Competency, efficiency and quality
Health workforce data

28. Pillo: Your Personal Home Health Robot
The smartest and friendliest way to manage yours and your family's health!

29. Pillo: Your Personal Home Health Robot
Stores up to 4 weeks worth of vitamins and medications in tamper proof containers within the device
Uses sophisticated identity recognition technology to ensure medications are dispensed to right use at right time
Reminds you and also caregivers to remind you
Will automatically re-order your medications from your preferred pharmacy
Specific medication instructions are synced and advised on dispensing
Answers your health and welfare questions
Connects you with your health professional

30. How to stay informed
Go to to access news items, regular Board newsletters and registration status
Check the Board’s website for standards, codes, guidelines and other important information for the pharmacy profession
Join in consultations about emerging issues