Pharmacy Council of New Zealand

About the Pharmacy Council

The Pharmacy Council of New Zealand is the regulatory body responsible for the registration of pharmacists in New Zealand. Established under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Council's primary role is to protect the public by ensuring pharmacists are competent and fit to practice.

Operating as a statutory body, the Council sets standards for pharmacy education, maintains an annual recertification program for pharmacists, and manages the pharmacist register. The Council's governance comprises a balance of pharmacist professionals and lay members appointed by the Minister of Health, ensuring both professional expertise and public interest perspectives in its decision-making processes.

Mission and Vision

History and Establishment

The Pharmacy Council was established following the enactment of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA), which created a unified regulatory framework for health practitioners in New Zealand. Prior to 2004, pharmacists were registered under the Pharmacy Act 1970, with the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand carrying out regulatory functions alongside professional representation.

The separation of regulatory functions from professional representation was a significant change in the health regulatory environment, moving towards greater public accountability and transparency in health practitioner regulation. The full transfer of functions to the newly established Pharmacy Council was completed in 2004.

Role and Functions

As the regulatory authority for pharmacists in New Zealand, the Council undertakes several key functions to ensure public safety and professional standards:

• Registering pharmacists and maintaining the annual practicing certificate system
• Setting standards of competence and clinical practice
• Establishing and maintaining a code of ethics for pharmacists
• Accrediting pharmacy education programs and institutions
• Setting standards for pharmacy practices that employ pharmacists
• Receiving and investigating complaints about pharmacist conduct, competence, or fitness to practice
• Developing policies and guidelines for pharmacists
• Reviewing and approving recertification programs
• Promoting culturally safe pharmacy practice

Regulatory Framework

The Council operates within a robust regulatory framework defined by legislation, standards, and guidelines. The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 serves as the primary legislation that sets out the Council's functions, powers, and obligations. Under this Act, the Council must:

Ensure that authorities are accountable for the adequacy of the processes that they have in place for ensuring the competence of health practitioners; Ensure that information about the competence of health practitioners is available to the Act's funding systems (the Accident Compensation Corporation and the Ministry of Health); and Undertake activities that promote public safety in the use of health services.

Strategic Priorities

The Pharmacy Council's strategic priorities include:

• Strengthening the recertification framework to ensure ongoing competence
• Enhancing cultural safety in pharmacy practice to meet the needs of Mori and other diverse populations
• Improving responsiveness to complaints and concerns about pharmacist practice
• Developing a clear and accessible registration and competence framework
• Strengthening relationships with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, and professional organizations

Registration Process

To become a registered pharmacist in New Zealand, individuals must meet specific requirements set by the Pharmacy Council. The registration process ensures that all practicing pharmacists have appropriate qualifications, skills, and knowledge to practice safely and effectively.

Registration Pathways

The Pharmacy Council offers different registration pathways depending on an applicant's background:

• Graduate Registration: For New Zealand pharmacy graduates who have completed an accredited four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and a subsequent one-year pharmacy internship program.
• Overseas Registration: For qualified pharmacists from other countries who wish to practice in New Zealand. This pathway may involve competency assessments, examinations, and supervised practice periods depending on the country of qualification.
• Special Purpose Registration: For pharmacists with specialist skills who are invited to New Zealand to contribute to the development of the pharmacy profession or to fill specific vacancies for a limited period.

Annual Practicing Certificate

Registered pharmacists must hold a current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) to practice in New Zealand. To obtain an APC, pharmacists must:

• Complete the required recertification activities outlined in the Council's recertification program
• Renew their registration annually
• Pay the required registration fees
• Meet the Council's fitness to practice criteria

Competence Requirements

The Council sets specific competence standards that all pharmacists must meet. These include:

• Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities
• Pharmaceutical knowledge and understanding
• Practice in pharmacy and pharmaceutical care
• Reflection and professional development
• Leadership and management (for those in leadership positions)

Standards and Guidelines

The Pharmacy Council establishes various standards and guidelines to ensure quality pharmacy practice across New Zealand. These standards serve as benchmarks for professional practice and contribute to patient safety.

Code of Ethics

The Council's Code of Ethics sets out the ethical responsibilities of pharmacists, requiring them to:

• Place the wellbeing of patients as their primary concern
• Respect patients' dignity, privacy, and autonomy
• Provide competent, safe, and appropriate care
• Maintain professional boundaries
• Promote public health and wellbeing
• Act honestly and with integrity
• Maintain and improve professional knowledge
• Work cooperatively with colleagues and other healthcare professionals

Standards of Practice

The Council's standards for all pharmacists in New Zealand outline the expected level of professional practice. These standards cover:

• Professional and legal responsibilities
• Communication skills
• Pharmaceutical knowledge
• Provision of pharmacy and pharmaceutical care
• Reflection and professional development

Cultural Safety

The Council recognizes the importance of cultural safety in pharmacy practice, particularly in relation to Mori health (Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations). The cultural competency standards require pharmacists to:

• Practice in a way that respects the cultural identity of patients
• Understand and respond to health inequities
• Recognize the importance of whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships)
• Demonstrate respect for tikanga (customs and protocols)
• Collaborate with Mori health providers where appropriate