Pharmacy

Guidelines for Good Pharmaceutical Practice 2010	06 January 2010
The Board is pleased to release its Guidelines for Good Pharmaceutical Practice 2010 which are effective from 1 January 2010. A printed copy will be distributed during January to all pharmacists registered in 2010 including provisional registrants. Important points will be highlighted in an email circular to be sent during January to all pharmacists who have an email address recorded with the Board. Click here to view the new Guidelines http://www.pharmacybd.vic.gov.au/docs/Pharmacy_Guidelines_2010.pdf (pdf; 593k)

Renewal of Registration for 2010	23 December 2009
Pharmacists are reminded that pursuant to the provisions of the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 (Act) their registration must be renewed by 31 December 2009. This can be easily achieved by using the Board‘s website www.pharmacybd.vic.gov.au and then logging on with the login ID and password sent in the renewal notice in late October. Once paid a registration receipt/card is sent by mail. It should be noted that the Board‘s office is closed from 12 noon on Thursday 24 December until 9.00am on Monday 4 January 2010 as has been the practice for more than twenty years. It is quite surprising that about twenty pharmacists have breached the legislation by not notifying a change of their registered address and consequently their renewal notices have been returned to the Board marked "No longer at this address". They are now in danger of their names being removed from the register for non-payment of the registration fee. Payments received after midnight on 31 December 2009 require the payment of a late fee for renewal to be made up until 31 March 2010 when names are removed in accordance with the Act. Workforce study When renewing registration online it is easy to also complete the annual workforce survey online following the prompts at the end of the registration renewal. This information is de-identified and is essential for planning future pharmacy services in Victoria.

Further information on teeth whitening in pharmacies	11 December 2009
In early October the Pharmacy Board of Victoria issued a statement alerting pharmacists to the conviction of a beauty therapist where the Magistrate found that a dental whitening procedure as practised by the defendant was an invasive and irreversible procedure. The statement clearly advised that it did not apply to the sale or supply of products that are marketed for teeth whitening. It was advice to pharmacists that they may infringe legislation if they or their staff were involved in an invasive or irreversible procedure. This means that no contact should be made with the client‘s mouth and referral to a dental health professional should be made when necessary.

National Registration and Accreditation Scheme	05 November 2009
For further information on the national registration and accreditation scheme which commences 1 July 2010, click here.

Teeth whitening in pharmacies	07 October 2009
The prosecution of a beauty therapist by the Dental Practice Board of Victoria for carrying out teeth whitening resulted in a conviction and a fine of $2,000 for contravention of the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 ("the Act"). Section 98(1)(b) states that a person who is not registered as a dental care provider "must not knowingly perform any invasive or irreversible procedure on natural teeth". The magistrate found that the dental whitening procedure as practised by the defendant was an invasive and irreversible procedure. This is the first case of its kind in Australia. Section 103(6) of the Act provides that a person approved by the Pharmacy Board to carry on a pharmacy business must not authorise, cause or permit any other person to carry on in the approved premises any business or activity unless that business or activity is approved by the Board and specified in the approval. The Pharmacy Board has determined that it may approve a teeth whitening business or activity to be carried on within the pharmacy if, and only if, the person carrying out the business or activity is registered as a dental care provider. If a pharmacist personally carries out teeth whitening or employs someone to do it within or separate from the pharmacy, both the pharmacist and the person actually performing the activity would be liable to prosecution under section 98(1) of the Act unless they are registered as dental health care providers. This advice does not apply to the sale or supply of products that are marketed for teeth whitening.

Victorian Pharmacy Authority	27 July 2009
A consultation paper regarding continued controls on who may own and operate pharmacies in Victoria after implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme on 1 July 2010 . Click here for further information.

Schedule of fees	01 July 2009
The Board‘s schedule of fees effective 1 July 2009 can be found under ‘Publications‘

Pharmacy Board News Health Professionals Alert - Change todispensing Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) - 25 June 2009	25 June 2009
Public health emergency orders dated Friday 5 June 2009 have been revoked. Click here.

Chief Health Officer - Pharmacist update (23 June 2009)	23 June 2009
An update on H1N1 influenza for pharmacist is provided. Click here.

Chief Health Officer Pharmacists Alert - 10 June 2009	10 June 2009
The Chief Health Officer has advised health practitioners of a Public Health Emergency Order. All pharmacists should read the attached order. Click here.

Pharmacists‘ Support Service	29 May 2009
Pharmacists‘ Support Service now has a new phone number 1300 244 910. This is a toll free number and so pharmacists can now contact the service for the cost of a local call. Anyone using the mobile phone number will still reach the volunteer on duty however they will incur the full cost of calling a mobile phone number.

H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Flu)	28 May 2009
For the most up-to-date information : Visit www.health.vic.gov.au Call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or Call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 606 024 - for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)

Criteria for the approval of pharmacy departments.	04 May 2009
The Board has developed draft criteria for the approval of pharmacy departments. The criteria are to supplement the Board‘s guidelines and provide additional guidance on the requirements for approval of pharmacy departments. The Board has released the criteria for public consultation and invites comment by 12 June 2009. Comments should be forwarded to: The Registrar Pharmacy Board of Victoria Level 6, 369 Royal Parade PARKVILLE VIC 3052 Click here to access a copy of the draft criteria.