Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today is celebrating National Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants Day by opening consultation on the first Competency Standards and Framework for Pharmacy Technicians while offering 50 per cent of annual Technician Membership fees until the end of October.
AdPha President Tom Simpson says the foundational document, developed incollaboration with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA), is the first major step in formally recognising the integral role pharmacy technicians play in supporting patient care.
‘Pharmacy technicians working across all areas of practice are highly skilled and essential members of pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams.
‘Their duties can vary from preparing and dispensing mediations, compounding medications, clinical ward-based roles taking medication histories from patients, inventory management, record keeping, ensuring regulatory compliance and ultimately supporting pharmacists to improve efficiencies for the delivery of safer patient care.
‘This is why they are our “partners in patient care” and we’re proud to announce this latest investment in the profession, following the addition of an elected Technician Member to the AdPha Board of Directors as part of our Transformation 2024 agenda.
‘This vital area of the pharmacy workforce plays a critical role in supporting patient safety and should, like all pharmacy professionals, have competency standards that reflect their area of practice.
‘As our profession continues to evolve, so too does the role of pharmacy technicians and we are proud to make this first leap into ensuring technicians are recognised and supported to practice consistently, appropriately and safely.’
Mr Simpson says as part of celebrations marking the incredible work the more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians and assistants across the country do every day, AdPha will also be offering 50 per cent off annual Technician Membership fees until 31 October 2024.
