Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Pharmaceutical Practitioners

6. Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Pharmaceutical Practitioners

Students Learning Tasks

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

Define important terms used in Code of Ethics

Understand the Background of codes of ethics

Explain codes of ethics

Definition of important Terms used in Code of Ethics

Pharmaceutical personnel

pharmacist

pharmaceutical technician

pharmaceutical assistant

intern pharmacist

professional misconduct

pharmacy practice

professionalism

pharmacy council

breaches

Definition of Terms:

Pharmaceutical personnel: As per this code of ethics and professional conduct means registered pharmacist, enrolled pharmaceutical technician, enlisted pharmaceutical assistant and intern pharmacist.

Pharmacist: Means a person registered under section 16 as per Pharmacy Act 2011, Cap 311

Pharmaceutical technician: Means a person enrolled under section 24 as per Pharmacy Act 2011, Cap 311

Pharmaceutical assistant: : Means a person enlisted under section 28 of Pharmacy Council Act 2011, Cap 311

Intern Pharmacist: Means any person registered as such under section 17 of Pharmacy Council Act 2011, Cap 311

Professional misconduct: Means any conduct which is in breach of the code of conduct, prescribed under the Pharmacy Council Act 2011, Cap 311

Pharmacy Practice: Means any act pertaining to the scope of practice of a Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Technician and Pharmaceutical Assistant as approved by the council

Professionalism: Means active demonstration of the following traits, Knowledge and skills of a profession, Commitment to self-improvement of skills and knowledge Service orientation, Pride in the profession, Collaborative relationship with the patient Creativity and innovation, Conscience and trustworthiness, Accountability for his/her work, Ethically sound decision making, and Leadership.

Pharmacy Council: Means a council established under Section 3 of Pharmacy Council Act 2011, Cap 311.

Breaches: Means an act of breaking, violating or disregarding any obligation of code of ethics and professional conduct.

Background of Codes of Ethics

A profession is distinguished by the willingness of individual practitioners to comply with ethical and professional standards, which exceed minimum legal requirements. The role of pharmaceutical personnel is developing and recognized as the expert on medicines within the overall health system, to ensure people maintain good health, through responsible use of medicines.

To practice as pharmaceutical personnel means undertaking any role, whether remunerated or not, in which an individual uses his professional skills and knowledge. Pharmaceutical practices are not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care, but also include working in a non-clinical relationship with consumers, patients or care takers, in the discovery, development, and manufacture of medicines, in maintaining the supply chain or in procurement. Besides this, pharmaceutical management or administrations, in education, research, advisory, regulatory, or policy development roles are considered to be important role to this cadre.

The code of ethics will therefore apply to pharmaceutical personnel in all pharmacy practice settings. At all times, Codes should strive to provide the best possible care for consumers, patients and care takers, with due regard for the limitations of available resources and the principles of equity and justice.

These codes of ethics and Professional Conduct for pharmaceutical personnel therefore intend to reaffirm and state publicly the obligations that form the basis of the roles and responsibilities of pharmaceutical personnel. These obligations, based on established ethical principles, are provided to enable and guide pharmaceutical personnel in their daily practice of the profession.

Explanation of Codes of Ethics

The principles of the Code of Ethics are intended to capture the philosophical foundation of

Pharmacy practice and to express the responsibilities and professional values that are fundamental and inherent to the pharmacy profession. They reflect and support developments in the profession, patient-centered practice and take into consideration patients’ rights and responsibilities.

Pharmaceutical personnel are professionally accountable for their practice, which means being responsible for what they do or do not do, no matter what advice or direction a manager or another professional gives them. They may be faced with conflicting professional or legal responsibilities; therefore they must use their professional judgment when deciding on a course of action and should use their professional and ethical principles as a basis for making those decisions.

The principles of the Code of ethics form the basis for the provision of a consistent high quality professional service which safeguards and promotes the well-being of patients and society and maintains public confidence in the profession. The principles are equally important and are listed in no particular order.

AS PHARMACEUTICAL PERSONNEL YOU MUST:

Make the health and well-being of the patient your first priority.

Promote patient self-determination, respect patients’ rights, autonomy and freedom of choice.

Use your professional judgment in the interests of patients and the public and promote family, and community health.

Show respect for others and exercise your duties with professionalism.

Actively seek and apply contemporary pharmacy knowledge and skills to ensure a high standard of professional competence.

Act in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence in pharmacists and enhances the reputation of the profession.

Practice in a manner that does not compromise your professional independence, judgment or integrity, or that of other pharmacists

The principles or codes and their supporting explanations are given here under:

Code 01: Make the health and well-being of the patient your first priority.

The care, well-being and safety of patients are at the centre of everyday professional pharmacy practice. Irrespective of your field of work, your decisions or behavior can still affect their care or safety. For example:

Ensure that your duty of care to a patient (or patients) is not compromised by a commercial interest or interest of any other kind, including any loyalty to or interests of an employer or other healthcare provider

Where you have reasonable grounds to suspect the misuse or abuse of prescribed medicines consult with the prescriber.

When medicines are provided by any other means (for example, by post, courier, internet or by an agent on behalf of residential care patients) ensure you provide the same standard of information, advice and services to that which would have been received by a patient present in a pharmacy and in direct face to face consultation with a pharmacist.

Code 02: Promote patient self determination, respect patients rights, autonomy and freedom of choice:

Patients and the public have a right to be involved in decisions about their treatment and care. This needs effective communication. They should be encouraged to work in collaboration with you and others to manage their healthcare needs.

Respect the rights of individual patients to participate in decisions about their treatment and encourage them to do so.

Take appropriate steps to communicate effectively with patients and the public, tailoring your communication to meet their needs.

Work in collaboration with patients, their careers and other professionals to manage their treatment and care

Code 03: Use your professional judgment in the interests of patients and the public and promote family, and community health:

Balancing the needs of individual patients with those of the community as a whole is essential to professional practice. Guidelines, targets and financial constraints need to be taken into account, but they must not compromise your ability to make an informed professional judgment on what is appropriate for patients within the health resources available

Provide high standards of service and patient focused care within the resources available.

Provide all services within the context that public funds are made available and provide only those services that the patient requires.

Take appropriate steps to advocate for patients to access services and resources appropriate to their needs.

Code 04: show respect for others and exercise your duties with professionalism:

Showing respect for the dignity, views and rights of others is essential in forming and maintaining professionally appropriate relationships. This includes patients, their carers, pharmacy colleagues and other healthcare providers you come into contact with

Take all reasonable steps to respect and protect the dignity and privacy of patients at all times.

Take appropriate steps to foster, develop and maintain effective, professional relationships with colleagues and other healthcare providers

Code 05: Actively seek and apply contemporary pharmacy knowledge and skills to ensure a high standard of professional competence.

Up-to-date and relevant professional knowledge and skills are essential for safe and effective pharmacy practice. At all stages of your professional working life you must ensure that your knowledge, skills and performance are of a high standard, up-to-date and relevant to your field of practice.

Undertake continuing education and professional development relevant to your field of practice.

Only provide professional services in those areas in which you are competent to do so.

Only practice within your scope of practice and in accordance with any conditions entered on the Pharmacy Council register.

Code 06: Act in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence in pharmacists and enhances the reputation of the profession.

Patients, colleagues and the public place their trust in you as a pharmacy professional. You must behave in a way that justifies this trust and maintains the reputation of your profession

Avoid conflicts of interest and declare any personal or professional interests you have. Do not offer, ask for or accept incentives, gifts, hospitality or referrals that may affect or be seen to affect, your professional independence or judgment

Practice only if you are fit and competent to do so. Report to the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council any concerns where your own or another pharmacist`s professional performance or health may compromise patient care or public safety

Code 07: Practice in a manner that does not compromise your professional independence, judgment or integrity, or that of other professionals.

Working in a team is an important part of professional practice and relies on respect, cooperation and communication between colleagues from your own and other professions. when working as part of a team you are accountable for your own decisions and behavior and any work you supervise

Ensure that you only delegate tasks to people appropriate to their qualifications, ability and experience.

Make sure your actions do not prevent others from complying with their ethical, legal and professional obligations, or present a risk to patient care or public safety

Take appropriate steps to promote collegial relationships by assisting colleagues and other healthcare providers when asked for advice or support to enable them to carry out their professional duties and in order to maintain standards in the interests of patient care and public safety

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