IMPORTANT Revisions to HPA Bylaws Regarding Patient Choice
2009-11-06
The College wishes to advise pharmacists of recent changes, approved by the College Board, to sections of the HPA bylaws Schedule F – Part 1 – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice which relate to ‘Patient Choice’. The primary principle that the College bylaws is meant to uphold is the concept that patients should be able to freely choose their pharmacy with the only exceptions being in rare circumstances, such as Residential Care Facilities, where it is in fact in the ‘best interest of the patient’ to restrict that choice.
Recent complaints to the College however, illustrate that there may be pharmacy practices currently taking place that do not support the principal of ‘patient choice’. The revisions to the bylaws are intended to more clearly communicate registrants’ requirements in this regard (Section 3) and define the limited circumstances in which it would be appropriate to allow sole pharmacy service providers (Section 13). These revisions were done in consultation with the College’s Residential Care Advisory Committee and as per government procedure publicly posted for comment.
The current HPA bylaws are as follows:
HPA Bylaws Schedule F – Part 1 – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice:
Section 3 – Patient Choice
Pharmacists, owners and directors must not enter into agreements with patients, patient’s representatives, practitioners, corporations, partnerships, or any other person or entity, that limit a patient’s choice of pharmacy, except as required or permitted under the bylaws.
Section 13 – Sole Pharmacy Service Provider
The manager of a pharmacy may enter into a agreement with another person to be the sole provider of pharmacy services in a premise or part of a premise, if
(a) pharmacy services are provided in a manner that is consistent with the Residential Care Facilities and Homes Standards of Practice,
(b) patient therapeutic outcomes are monitored to enhance patient safety, and
(c) appropriate provision has been made for safe and effective distribution, administration and control of drugs.
This email is considered due notice of these bylaw changes and any registrant who is currently engaged in a pharmacy practice that violates these bylaws must cease this activity immediately. From this point forward these bylaws will be enforced by the College of Pharmacists of BC and any registrant found in violation will be subject to the College’s inquiry and disciplinary process.
Should you have any questions, please direct them to Suzanne Solven, Deputy Registrar College of Pharmacists of BC at .
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