Pharmacy services Standard – available for public comment soon

A new Pharmacy services Standard will soon be available for public comment from Standards New Zealand. The Standard will cover community and hospital-based pharmacy services, and clinical pharmacy services not provided from a pharmacy. Public comment is planned to commence mid-August 2009.

'This is the first time that Standards New Zealand has prepared a Standard for pharmacies – this means that we can now link pharmacies to all of the health Standards, and to the health sector,' says Alan Fraser, development committee Chair.

'The draft Pharmacy services Standard is consistent with, and based on NZS 8134:2008 Health and Disability services Standards. It has been developed by an expert committee, using a consensus-based process that facilitates public input.'

STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Pharmacy services Standard

Committee: P8120
Project Manager: Carolyn Gay
Estimated Publication Date: February 2010
Comments: A balanced expert committee from across the sector is working to ensure the Pharmacy Services Standard demonstrates that consumers are clear about their rights, and providers are clear about their responsibilities for good and safe outcomes in the document. The Standard is progressing well through its development stage. The committee met to further develop the content on 27 and 28 May and, on 30 June and 1 July, they met again to finalise the content before the project progresses to public comment stage. The public comment period is planned to commence mid August.

Non-therapeutic use of human tissue

Committee: P8135
Project Manager: Nelson Procter
Estimated Publication Date: To be confirmed
Comments: Awaiting Ministry of Health approval prior to publication.