General Pharmaceutical Council
Encyclopedia
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the body responsible for the independent regulation of the pharmacy
profession within England
, Scotland
and Wales
, responsible for the regulation of pharmacist
s, pharmacy technician
s and pharmacy premises. It was created, along with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
, in September 2010 when the previous Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
was split so that representative and regulatory functions of the pharmacy profession could be separated.
and the subsequent Pharmacy Order 2010 allowed for regulatory functions of the RPSGB to be transferred to the new pharmacy regulator, the GPhC. The GPhC is therefore responsible for the update and maintenance of the registers of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy premises and pharmacy training premises. These registers can be accessed electronically by any member of the public online at the GPhC's website.
In addition the GPhC states that the Health and Social Care Act 2008
has sufficient provisions to allow for the transfer of regulatory powers from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
to the GPhC in the future, subject to approval of Northern Ireland Ministers.
The principal functions of the GPhC, as stated within Pharmacy Order 2010 are;
Furthermore, under statute, the GPhC must have the following committees;
The Pharmacy Order 2010 requires not only that the GPhC sets acceptable standards of continuing professional development
(CPD), but that it ensures that all registrants meet those required standards, and that there are processes in place for various remedial measures, including removal of a registrant from the register if they either fail to meet these standards, or make a false statement in relation to their CPD.
, rather than elected.
The first and current Chair of the GPhC Council is Bob Nicholls CBE
, a lay member with extensive experience in the National Health Service
, who has previously been a lay member of the General Medical Council
, among other regulatory appointments.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
profession within England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, responsible for the regulation of pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
s, pharmacy technician
Pharmacy technician
A pharmacy technician, also sometimes known as a pharmaceutical technician, is a health care worker who performs pharmacy related functions, generally working under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist or other health professional...
s and pharmacy premises. It was created, along with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is the body responsible for the leadership and support of the pharmacy profession within England, Scotland and Wales...
, in September 2010 when the previous Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was formerly the statutory regulatory and professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales...
was split so that representative and regulatory functions of the pharmacy profession could be separated.
Statutory
The Health and Social Care Act 2008Health and Social Care Act 2008
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Section 170 - Commencement:Orders made under section 170* * *...
and the subsequent Pharmacy Order 2010 allowed for regulatory functions of the RPSGB to be transferred to the new pharmacy regulator, the GPhC. The GPhC is therefore responsible for the update and maintenance of the registers of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy premises and pharmacy training premises. These registers can be accessed electronically by any member of the public online at the GPhC's website.
In addition the GPhC states that the Health and Social Care Act 2008
Health and Social Care Act 2008
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Section 170 - Commencement:Orders made under section 170* * *...
has sufficient provisions to allow for the transfer of regulatory powers from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is the regulatory and professional body for pharmacy in Northern Ireland.As the regulatory body, it seeks to protect public safety in pharmacy by:...
to the GPhC in the future, subject to approval of Northern Ireland Ministers.
The principal functions of the GPhC, as stated within Pharmacy Order 2010 are;
- to establish and maintain a register of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and premises at which a retail pharmacy business is;
- to set and promote standards for the safe and effective practice of pharmacy at registered pharmacies;
- to set standards to which registrants must demonstrate that their fitness to practise is not impaired;
- to promote the safe and effective practice of pharmacy by registrants;
- to set standards and requirements in respect of the education, training, acquisition of experience and continuing professional development that it is necessary for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to achieve in order to be entered in the Register or to receive an annotation in the Register and to maintain competence; and
- to ensure the continued fitness to practise of registrants.
Furthermore, under statute, the GPhC must have the following committees;
- Investigating Committee (considers allegations that a registrant's fitness to practise is impaired, and can refer to the Fitness to Practise Committee for a full inquiry);
- Fitness to Practise Committee (makes decisions in cases where a registrant's fitness to practise may be impaired, for reasons concerning their conduct, professional performance or health); and
- Appeals Committee (considers appeals of decisions relating to applications for registration and registration status).
The Pharmacy Order 2010 requires not only that the GPhC sets acceptable standards of continuing professional development
Continuing Professional Development
Continuing professional development or Continuing professional education is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives.-CPD research:...
(CPD), but that it ensures that all registrants meet those required standards, and that there are processes in place for various remedial measures, including removal of a registrant from the register if they either fail to meet these standards, or make a false statement in relation to their CPD.
Governance
The GPhC is governed by a fourteen member GPhC Council, with equal numbers of lay and registrant members, which is independent from the government, the professionals it regulates and any other interest groups. The GPhC state that to reinforce this independence, all members of the GPhC Council, including the Chair are appointed by the Privy CouncilPrivy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, rather than elected.
The first and current Chair of the GPhC Council is Bob Nicholls CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, a lay member with extensive experience in the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
, who has previously been a lay member of the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
, among other regulatory appointments.
Examinations
The GPhC Exam or GPhC Registration Assessment exam was set by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, but since September 2010 has been the responsibility of the GPhC. The examination takes place on two occasions each year: the summer (the last Friday in June) and the autumn (the last Friday in September).See also
- Pharmaceutical industry in the United KingdomPharmaceutical industry in the United KingdomThe pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom directly employs around 72,000 people and in 2007 contributed £8.4 billion to the UK's GDP and invested a total of £3.9 billion in research and development...
- List of pharmacy organizations in the United Kingdom
- List of schools of pharmacy in the United Kingdom
- British National FormularyBritish National FormularyThe British National Formulary is a medical and pharmaceutical reference book that contains a wide spectrum of information and advice on prescribing and pharmacology, along with specific facts and details about all medicines available on the National Health Service , including indication,...
- The Pharmacy Practice Research TrustThe Pharmacy Practice Research TrustThe Pharmacy Practice Research Trust is an independent charity established in July 1999, by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain which supports and promotes the professional practice and development of pharmacists and develop the field of pharmacy practice research...