UNIQUE EXPERTISE OF PHARMACISTS RECOGNISED WITH PUBLICATION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR WHICH A PHARMACIST MAY LEVY A FEE

The long awaited Rules relating to services for which a pharmacist may levy a fee and the guidelines for levying such a fee were in the Government Gazette on Friday, 23 February 2007. The Rules aim to clarify to the profession and public, the set of services for which a pharmacist may levy the fee, to be prescribed by the Minister of Health, so that no other fees, related to professional services, should be levied by the pharmacist to the public. The Rules and its fees and the dispensing fee will then be clearly understood by patients and pharmacists alike.

The vision that pharmacists should be engaging in primary and preventive healthcare is not new but it has taken a while to create the appropriate framework. Such services cannot be provided without comprehensive guidelines, training provisions and standards of service being in place in the pharmacy. Now that the new Good Pharmacy Practice Standards have been implemented, the way is clear for the implementation of the Rules for these services. These services firmly support preventive healthcare, screening tests performed in a pharmacy and immunisation services. With the increasing emphasis on the cost-effective, rational and safe use of medicines the pharmacists’ ability to consult on these issues outside of a dispensing process will be of great benefit to patients. While such services have been rendered by community pharmacists for many years a clear framework describing and regulating the costs has never been in place, until now.

"In line with the Pharmacy Council's role of protecting the public, the rules ensure that pharmacists are accountable for these activities" says Registrar of the Pharmacy Council", Amos Masango. "Also pharmacists who provide these services will be required to display notices in their pharmacies indicating which such services, and their fees, they would be offering. Also pharmacists would have to establish and maintain a full patient record system to support these services.

Where the public experiences problems with the implementation of these Rules, they would be requested to notify Council thereof, likewise Council urges pharmacists to remain professionally responsible in the application of these Rules. The Minister will soon pronounce on the exact quantum of these fees. In the absence of the published fees, Council believes that pharmacists, as members of an ethical profession, will not exploit the situation by charging excessive fees relating to these services.

As mentioned before, the main intention of the South African Pharmacy Council, with regard to the publication of the services, is to give notice to the profession, public and to the medical aid schemes of the imminent publication of such rules. The Rules document will be available on Council’s website (www,pharmcouncil.co.za) and Government Gazette printers.

SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE SAPC:

Prof PFK Eagles (President): (021) 959-3382

Mr T A Masango (Registrar): (012) 319-8503

ends

ISSUED BY: The South African Pharmacy Council in the interest of public health education and correct medicine usage