Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2015

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 553/2015
• Year: 2015

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 22nd December, 2015.

The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, in exercise of the powers conferred on the said Society by section 11 of the Pharmacy Act 2007 (No. 20 of 2007) (as adapted by the Health and Children (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 219 of 2011 )) and the Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2014 ( S.I. No. 532 of 2014 ), and for the purpose of discharging its functions under section 7(1)(d) of that Act, with the consent of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, hereby makes the following rules:

PART 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2015.

Commencement

2. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Rules come into operation on 1 January 2016.

(2) Rule 12 and paragraphs (a)(iii), (b) and (c)(i) of Rule 15 come into operation on 1 January 2017.

Interpretation

3. In these Rules—

“Act” means the Pharmacy Act 2007 (No. 20 of 2007) as amended by the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications relating to the Profession of Pharmacist) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 ( S.I. No. 489 of 2008 ), the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No. 24 of 2010), the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications relating to the Profession of Pharmacist) Regulations 2012 ( S.I. No. 235 of 2012 ), the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications relating to the Profession of Pharmacist) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 377 of 2013 ), the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 (No. 14 of 2013) and the European Union (Amendment of the Pharmacy Act 2007 ) Regulations 2015 ( S.I. No. 86 of 2015 );

“CPD” means the continuing professional development for pharmacists referred to in section 7(1)(d) of the Act;

“CPD system” means the CPD system developed and approved by the Council from time to time in the discharge of its functions under section 7(1)(d) of the Act;

“Codes of conduct” means the codes, drawn up by the Council in the discharge of its duty under section 7(2)(a)(iii) of the Act, and given effect to and maintained in compliance with section 12 of the Act;

“Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists” has the meaning assigned to it in Rule 4 of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) Rules 2014 ( S.I. No. 377 of 2014 ) and refers to such document which is for the time being in force;

“criteria” means the Accreditation Standards for CPD Programmes and Courses for Pharmacists published by the Council in accordance with Rule 5, and which are for the time being in force;

“ePortfolio” means the electronic CPD portfolio established and maintained by the Institute for use by pharmacists pursuant to Rule 10(1);

“Executive Director” means the person for the time being appointed by the Managing Body pursuant to Rule 4(3);

“Institute of Pharmacy” or “Institute” means the Irish Institute of Pharmacy, established by the Council pursuant to Rule 4(1);

“Managing Body” means the body corporate appointed for the time being by the Council pursuant to Rule 4(2);

“Register of Pharmacists” and “Register of Retail Pharmacy Businesses” mean the relevant registers established under section 13(1) of the Act;

“registered pharmacist” means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Pharmacists;

“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, appointed pursuant to paragraph 13(1) of Schedule 1 to the Act;

“relevant state” has the meaning assigned to it in section 16(8) of the Act, as amended by Regulation 6 of the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications relating to the Profession of Pharmacist) (No. 2) Regulations 2008;

“superintendent pharmacist” has the meaning assigned to it in Rule 3 of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Registration) Rules 2008 ( S.I. No. 494 of 2008 );

“supervising pharmacist” has the meaning assigned to it in Rule 3 of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Registration) Rules 2008.

PART 2

ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY AND APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Establishment of Institute and appointment of Managing Body and Executive Director

4. (1) For the purpose of discharging its functions under section 7(1)(d) of the Act, the Council shall establish, in the form of a management arrangement, the Irish Institute of Pharmacy, which shall arrange for the implementation and delivery of the CPD system, as determined by the Council, and the engagement by pharmacists with such system.

(2) The Council shall, from time to time, appoint a corporate body as the Managing Body of the Institute, which body shall provide facilities and services for the Institute of Pharmacy.

(3) The Managing Body shall, in consultation with the Society, appoint a person as Executive Director of the Institute, which person shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Institute, including the particular functions assigned to such person under these Rules.

(4) Subject to the policy direction of the Council, the Institute shall be responsible for the implementation and delivery of the CPD system in accordance with annual service plans approved by the Council and for the discharge of the duty of the Society referred to in section 7(2)(a)(iv) of the Act insofar as such duty relates to compliance by pharmacists with CPD as required by the codes of conduct for pharmacists.

PART 3

RECOGNITION AND APPROVAL OF CPD PROGRAMMES AND COURSES FOR PHARMACISTS

Criteria for recognition and approval of CPD programmes and courses for pharmacists

5. (1) For the purpose of discharging its duty under section 7(2)(a)(iv) of the Act as it relates to registered pharmacists, the Council shall, in accordance with the procedures set out in this Rule, determine, approve and publish criteria, under the title of the Accreditation Standards for CPD Programmes and Courses for Pharmacists, for the recognition and approval of CPD programmes and courses of education and training, with a view to enabling pharmacists to better fulfil their obligations under their codes of conduct.

(2) The criteria referred to in paragraph (1) shall, in particular, make provision for any or all of the following—

(a) set out minimum requirements appropriate to the development and delivery of the CPD programme or course including commitment, staffing, premises, facilities, infrastructure, policies, procedures, funding and organisational structures,

(b) conform with such general and specific standards as may, from time to time, be established by the Council to facilitate the safe delivery by pharmacists of new services, including services where the acquisition of specialisation is necessary,

(c) have regard to the competencies set out in the Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists,

(d) have regard to the legislation and the law pertaining to pharmacy and medicinal products, the practice of pharmacy in the State, the obligations deriving from professional registration, professional codes of conduct and the ethical principles expected of a person practising as a pharmacist in the State,

(e) require the subject matter to be current and of significant intellectual and practical content and deal primarily with matters relevant to the practice of pharmacy, including the improvement of the profession of pharmacy,

(f) require that the CPD programmes and courses be developed and conducted by persons or bodies that have suitable qualifications and experience,

(g) where appropriate, facilitate the participation by and cooperation with other health and social care professionals in CPD programmes and courses, and

(h) require the CPD programmes and courses to be relevant to pharmacists’ immediate or long-term needs in relation to their professional development.

(3) The Council shall review the criteria referred to in paragraph (1) at intervals not exceeding five years having regard to national and international advancements in the theory and practice of pharmacy and healthcare, including advancements in relevant scientific and technical progress, and national policy in the areas of healthcare practice, pharmacy and professional development and learning.

(4) Prior to the approval of the criteria referred to in paragraph (1), and where the Council proposes to amend such approved criteria, the Council shall publish its proposals on the Society’s website with an invitation to the public to comment on the draft criteria or amendments by such date as is specified in the invitation.

(5) The Council shall publish on the Society’s website the criteria adopted...