The True Potential of Pharmacists being Realized!

When was pharmacist independent prescribing introduced?

Regulations to allow independent prescribing by pharmacists came into effect in May 2006. Pharmacist independent prescribers can prescribe for any clinical condition but they must only prescribe within their professional and clinical competence.

Extent to which a Pharmacist can prescribe:

• While a pharmacist independent prescriber will be able to prescribe any medicine (excluding Controlled Drugs at present) for any condition, it is not anticipated that pharmacists will be consulted by and prescribe for all patients who need treatment with medicines.
• Pharmacist independent prescribers will have a role in prescribing for patients who present with minor ailments or a defined range of self-limiting conditions.
• Pharmacist independent prescribers will specialise in the management of patients with identified clinical conditions.
• As independent prescribers they will be able to work as autonomous practitioners making prescribing decisions based on their assessment of the patient’s condition and their judgement of the most appropriate medication regime.
• An advantage of pharmacist independent prescribing is that in addition to the management of the presenting condition, the pharmacist will be able to respond to the signs and symptoms of an additional clinical problem and make a professional decision on whether to treat the patient or refer to another practitioner.

In my forthcoming blogs I shall explain about the Independent prescribers course, registration requirements, institutes offering prescriber training and so on.

Reference :
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain