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Re-Licensure for Registered Pharmacists

PHARMACY COUNCIL POLICY ON RE-LICENSURE
FOR REGISTERED  PHARMACISTS
  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. PURPOSE OF THE RE-LICENSURE POLICY
  3. WHAT DOCUMENT CONTAINS
  4. CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) REQUIREMEMTS
  5. CE PROGRAMMES AND CREDIT TABLE
  6. SOURCES OF ACCEPTABLE CEC
  7. PERIOD OF RE-LICENSURE
  8. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEWLY QUALIFIED PHARMACISTS
  9. DOCUMENTATION
  10. NOTICES OF CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
  11. APPLICATION FOR RE-LICENSURE
  12. EVIDENCE OF RE-LICENSURE
  13. REFUSAL OF RE-LICENSURE
 
   INTRODUCTION

The Pharmacy Council is mandated by the Pharmacy Act 1994 (Act 489) to secure in the public’s interest the highest standards in the practice of Pharmacy among others. This responsibility, the Council performs through education, training, regulation enforcement, monitoring and evaluation. As part of the Council’s efforts to ensure that pharmaceutical service providers practice within agreed standards to guarantee quality and safety of the practice of pharmacy, the Council prescribes, implements, monitors and evaluates standards of practice from time to time to achieve its vision and mission.

Pharmacy is dynamic with things changing each day. Day in and out there is the introduction of new pharmaceutical products, accumulation of clinical experience with existing pharmaceuticals, discovery of new knowledge regarding disease processes and therapy. It therefore becomes necessary for the pharmacist to continuously seek to bring himself/herself up to standards that will equip him/her to meet the challenges that come with this dynamism, and also satisfy the shared vision of the Council to guarantee the highest level of pharmaceutical care to all.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in the report of its consultative group on “Preparing the future Pharmacist” (Vancouver 1997), identified seven roles and responsibilities known as the “seven star pharmacist”, which should be considered essential minimum expectations of a pharmacist by health care systems world-wide. These were:

  1. Care giver
  2. Decision Maker
  3. Communicator
  4. Leader
  5. Manager life-long learner and
  6. Teacher

The Vancouver consultancy agreed that pharmacist must possess specific knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors to equip them to perform these roles and responsibilities effectively.

The one time passing of the Ghana Pharmacy Professional Qualifying Examination and hence the registration and licensing can not adequately ensure the acquisition of all the seven qualities listed by the WHO. This thus necessitates the need to have continuing education for all registered pharmacists. Indeed presently there are some attempts at organizing continuing education for registered pharmacists, but how does the Council ensure a collective continuing education for all practicing pharmacists.

The ultimate goal of the Pharmacy Council (PC) is to embark upon a continuing professional development (CPD) program, a concept in which pharmacists are encouraged to adopt a structured approach of reflection, planning, action and evaluation of their professional career in an effort to continuously enhance their knowledge, skill and personal qualities.

The Pharmacy Council seeks to adopt a systematic approach towards achieving this ultimate goal of continuing development program. In this regard, the Pharmacy Council intends to develop a continuing education policy and programs as an initial step that would address the findings of the Need Assessment Study that it conducted in 2001. The main issues for the continuing education would therefore pivot around six key areas namely:

  1. Needs Assessment
  2. Curriculum
  3. Delivery
  4. Motivation
  5. Accreditation and
  6. Resources

To ensure a collective continuing training of all registered pharmacists, it is proposed that the Continuing Education policy forms part of the already existing requirements for retention of name in the register of duly qualified and practicing pharmacist in accordance with section 19 (1) and (2) of the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489). The Register of Pharmacists shall be in such a form as the Council shall determine as follows;

  1. Satisfy the minimum credits for Continuing Education requirements;
  2. Pay the prescribed fee;
  3. Be duly registered under section 15,16 and 17 of the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489);
  4. Possess a valid certificate of registration as pharmacist in Ghana;
  5. Have not contravened section 21(a) (b) and (c) of the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489) ; and
  6. Be in good standing in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Pharmacy Council or any other statute.

The purposes of this document are to inform all stake holders in the pharmacy profession about the policy, to educate and explain the various aspects of the policy and the stages of implementation. It is hoped that after reading this document the stakeholder will support and contribute to the successful implementation of this policy

This policy document is intended for all stake holders. These include;

  • The Pharmacy Council
  • Registered Pharmacists
  • Healthcare providing centers ( hospitals, clinics, etc) where pharmacists are employed
  • Food and Drugs Board
  • Ghana Standards Board
  • Ministry of Health
  • Ghana Health Service
  • Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana
  • Media agencies
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing companies
  • All institutions or firms where pharmacists are employed
  • Training Institutions for Pharmacists
   PURPOSE OF THE RE-LICENSURE POLICY

  1. To retain the names of pharmacists in good standing in the Register of Pharmacists
  2. To review and update the Register of Pharmacists
  3. To ensure that pharmacists are continuously acquiring new and relevant information and skills necessary for the efficient, safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical service.
  4. To collect and manage data on pharmacists particularly on Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.
  5. To provide accurate and reliable data on pharmacists
  6. To serve as a means of sampling opinions of pharmacists particularly on Continuing Education (CE) and the practice of pharmacy in general

   WHAT DOCUMENT CONTAINS

The contents of the document include the following:

  • Introduction
  • Purpose of the Re-licensure Policy
  • Continuing Education Requirements for eligibility for Re-licensure
  • Continuing Education Programmes and Credit Table
  • Sources of acceptable Continuing Education credits
  • Period of Re-licensure
  • Special consideration for Newly Qualified Pharmacists
  • Documentation
  • Notices of Continuing Education Programmes
  • Application for re-licensure
  • Evidence of re-licensure
  • Refusal of re-licensure

   CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) REQUIREMEMTS

The following are the regulations and requirements for the Continuing Education Credits (CEC):

  • The CEC requirements for the two year retention period shall not be less than 15 credits;
  • Unless otherwise exempted, failure to obtain the minimum 15 CEC in the prescribed period shall make such a pharmacist not eligible for retention of name in the Register of Pharmacists;
  • The CEC requirements must be obtained from at least two CE sources; and
  • CEC in excess for the prescribed period may be carried over into the next CE period.

   CE PROGRAMMES AND CREDIT TABLE
program Credit programmes Credit
Attendance and Participation in CE programmes organized by the PC 2/programme to maximum of 6 Attendance and Participation in PSGH organized (sponsored) conferences, CE or Scientific programmes 2/programmes to a maximum of 6
Independent studies (submission of a list of specific articles, journals, instructional videos, etc. is required) 2/publication to a maximum of 2 Service as a preceptor/supervisor to a pharmacy house officer 5/programme to a maximum of 5
Service as a facilitator or resource person for approved CE programmes. 2/programme to a maximum of 4 Approved presentations by pharmacists Maximum of 2
Regular meetings of the PSGH 2/meeting to a maximum of  6 Successful completion of pharmacy related courses Maximum of 2
Post-graduate studies in pharmacy related field. Maximum of 10 Fellowship programmes of WAPCP Maximum of 10
Attendance of FIP, CPA, WAPCP and any approved international conferences or programmes. 2/programmes to maximum of 8 Any other accredited programmes and courses of the PC. 1/programme to maximum of 6
   SOURCES OF ACCEPTABLE CEC
Sources of acceptable CEC shall include the following;
  • Attendance and participation in CE Programmes organized by the Pharmacy Council PC;
  • Attendance and participation in Pharmaceutical Society Of Ghana (PSGH) organized (sponsored) conferences, CE or scientific programmes;
  • Independent studies (submission in writing of list of specific articles, journals, instructional videos, etc, is required);
  • Service as a preceptor/ supervisor to a pharmacy house officer;
  • Service as a facilitator or resource person for approved CE programmes;
  • Approved presentations by pharmacists;
  • Regular attendance of meetings of the PSGH;
  • Successful completion of pharmacy relate coursed;
  • Post-graduate studies in a pharmacy related field;
  • Fellowship programmes of West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP);
  • Attendance of FIP, CPA, WAPCP and any other approved international conferences/programmes; and
  • Any other accredited programmes and courses organized by the PC.
A pharmacist may request the PC through its Education Committee to award credits for self directed learning or educational experience that the pharmacist considers worthy of credit and the PC my grant such request at its discretion.
   PERIOD OF RE-LICENSURE
The validity of re-licensure shall be two years (two calendar years) after which a registered pharmacist must re-apply to retain his/ her name in the Register of Pharmacists.
   SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEWLY QUALIFIED PHARMACISTS
A maximum of 15 CEC would be awarded by the Pharmacy Council to all intern pharmacists upon successful completion of the Ghana Pharmacy Professional Qualify Examination. This shall permit their names to be entered in the Register of Pharmacists for only one calendar year after which they must show minimum Continuing Education Credits (CEC) acquired to retain their names in the Register of Pharmacists.
   DOCUMENTATION
Proper documentation of CEC is of importance for the successful operation of this policy.
  • There shall be the provision of a Credit Log Book (CLB) for each pharmacist in which should be recorded CE taken;
  • Documentation could also be in the form of certificates awarded to applicants after completion or participation in workshops, courses or seminars;
  • Each pharmacist shall be responsible for acquiring the minimum CEC and ensure that accurate written records of acquired CEC is made available to the Pharmacy Council;
  • The names of pharmacists obtaining 30 CEC or more consistently over two re-licensure periods may be published for special commendations;
   NOTICES OF CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council shall cause to be published notice of dates, location and number of Continuing Education Credits available for approved CE programmes within the Re-licensure period.
   APPLICATION FOR RE-LICENSURE
A pharmacist seeking to retain his/her name in the Register of Pharmacists shall apply in the prescribed form to the Registrar of the Council. No name shall be retained in the Register of Pharmacists under section 19 (1) unless he/she fulfills all the following
  • Satisfy the minimum credits for Continuing Education requirements;
  • Pay the prescribed fee;
  • Be duly registered under section 15,16 and 17 of the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489);
  • Possess a valid certificate of registration as pharmacist in Ghana;
  • Have not contravened section 21(a) (b) and (c) of the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489) ; and
  • Be in good standing in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Pharmacy Council or any other statute.
   EVIDENCE OF RE-LICENSURE
The Pharmacist name shall be retained in the Register of Pharmacists and issued with a professional ID card and a certificate of re-licensure
   REFUSAL OF RE-LICENSURE
Any pharmacist who fails to satisfy all the requirements for re-licensure shall be refused retention of his/her name in the Register of Pharmacists. A pharmacist aggrieved by the refusal of re-licensure may petition against the decision to the Registrar. The Registrar shall consider such petition(s) and make decision(s) on the matter within 30 days of receiving the petition. A pharmacist whose re-licensure is refused as a result of non-compliance with CE requirements shall be directed to obtain the necessary Continuing Education Credits (CEC) from programmes determined by the Council.

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( RE-LICENSURE IMPLEMENTATION STATISTICS )