Pharmacists Registration Act Flashcards
Who constitutes the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC)?
- 9 registered pharmacists appointed by Minister of Health
- 2 ex-officials & are registered pharmacists:
1) Chief Pharmacist
2) Head of Department of Pharmacy, NUS or designate
How long is each term of office for members in SPC?
3 years & members shall be eligible for reappointment.
Which two positions in the SPC are part of the council in lieu of their designations?
1) Chief Pharmacist
2) Head of Dept of NUS Pharmacy
TML is the Head of the Department of Pharmacy & is currently a member of the SPC. However, KT will be taking over the appointment as the Head of Department in the upcoming year. Will TML be considered as a member of SPC next year?
No. Ex-official appointments are dependent on the job appointment by MOH & NUS respectively. Thus, as TML steps down as Head of Dept of NUS Pharmacy, her SPC membership will be revoked starting next year when KT becomes the Head.
What are the disqualifications to hold office in SPC?
- NOT a Singaporean citizen or PR
- An undischarged bankrupt
- Hx of conviction for fraud, dishonesty or moral character
- Total or partially incapacitated by a mental or physical disability
How is the President of the SPC appointed?
- Appointed by Minister of Health from council members
- Duration of term specified by Minister of Health & is eligible for reappointment (likely 3-year term but subjected to changes)
What is the role of the president in SPC?
Preside at any meetings of SPC.
In his/her temporary absence, members present shall elect one council member to preside over the meeting for the day.
What is the minimum number of SPC members to form a quorum?
5 SPC members
How many votes does each SPC member have?
President or presiding council member = 1 original vote + 1 casting vote when a tiebreaker is needed
Council members = 1 original vote each
Minutes of any proceedings by SPC need not be kept always. True or false?
False
What are the functions of SPC?
1) Registration administration of pharmacists, including registration & practising certificates
2) Prescribing & implementing measures, guidelines & standards for registration as pharmacists
3) Local pharmacy degree recommendations
4) Recommendations for registered pharmacists continued training & education
5) Regulation of conduct & ethics of registered pharmacists
What are the three registers maintained by the Registrar of SPC (i.e. Chief Pharmacist)?
1) Registers of Pharmacists
- Part I: Fully registered pharmacists
- Part II: Conditionally registered pharmacists (primarily for foreign pharmacists to practise in SG)
2) Registers of Specialists
3) Register of Temporarily Registered Pharmacists (usually for temporary residents in SG for purposes of teaching, research or postgraduate studies in SPC-approved institutions)
What are the seven specialities (as of 2020) that can be registered under the Register of Specialists?
Cardiology, critical care, geriatrics, infectious diseases, oncology, paediatrics & psychiatry
Under what conditions will a local registrant be eligible for registration as a fully registered pharmacist?
1) Singapore degree (i.e BoS (Pharmacy) or Bachelor of Pharmacy)
2) >= 12 months of practical experience @ SPC-approved training site, w/ => 9 months under supervision of a fully registered pharmacist
3) Good reputation & character
4) Physically & mentally fit to practise
Under what conditions will a registrant be eligible for registration as a conditionally registered pharmacist?
1) Prescribed pharmacy qualification in accepted list of universities in PCQR
- 61 recognised universities caa 1 Aug 2020 from Malaysia, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada & USA
- need to be registered as pharmacists in country of study & hold valid practising certificate in that country caa 1 Jun 2018
2) >= 12 months of practical experience @ SPC-approved training site, w/ => 3 months under supervision of a fully registered pharmacist in SG
3) Pass prescribed exams of Pharm Law, competency exam & English proficiency exam (if from Malaysia & Ireland)
4) Selected from employment as a pharmacist in an SPC-approved training site
5) Good reputation & character
- including certificate of good standing from registration body in country of study, stating date of issue
6) Physically & mentally fit to practise
If a pharmacy graduate from Malaysia will like to be a conditionally registered pharmacist in SG, which prescribed exams must he/she take?
1) English proficiency test
2) Pharmacy law (no more than 3 attempts total)
3) Competency exam on the practice of pharmacy (no more than 3 attempts total)
What are the conditions to practise for conditionally registered pharmacists?
1) ONLY at SPC-approved training centres for full duration of conditional registration (1-2 years)
2) Subjected to supervisory framework by fully registered pharmacist w/ min. 3 years of working experience (can be remote supervision)
- Supervisors need to report q 6 months about performance of conditionally registered pharmacists
3) Conditionally registered pharmacists may be pharmacists in charge of a community pharmacy.
Under what conditions will a registrant be eligible for registration as a temporarily registered pharmacist?
1) Temporary resident in Singapore doing exclusively teaching, research or postgraduate studies in SPC-approved institutions
2) Possess pharmacy knowledge, experience & skills of international standing or special value to Singaporeans
3) Possess other qualifications but not entitled to be registered under PRA
4) Pass prescribed exams by SPC
If the research requires temporarily registered pharmacists to be in contact with patients & interact with them as healthcare professionals, it is considered permissible by law. True or false?
False!
Need to be a fully registered pharmacist to legally interact with patients!
How long is the validity of the registration of a temporarily registered pharmacist?
Not exceeding 2 years, which may be renewed for (a) further period(s) no longer than 12 months at discretion of SPC
Which particulars of registered pharmacists are kept in the Registers?
Name, residential & practice address
Date of registration
Qualification for registration & date of qualification
What are the roles of the Registrar?
Responsible for the maintenance & custody of the registers
Publish on SPC website list of registered pharmacists that have in force practising certificates
If a registered pharmacist recently moved house, how long is he/she given to inform the Registrar of the change in his/her residential address?
Within 28 days of the change
Certificates of registration are synonymous with practising certificates. True or false?
False!
Upon successful registration as pharmacists, he/she will be issued a certificate of registration.
The practising certificate is required to practice pharmacy in both outpatient & inpatient settings in SG.
Under what conditions can SPC refuse to register an applicant as a pharmacist?
1) Has his/her registration withdrawn, suspended or cancelled in any other country
2) Of opinion that he/she is not eligible to register as a pharmacist
3) Not of good reputation & character
4) Unfit to practise due to physical or mental condition
How long is an issued practising certificate (PC) valid for?
Period not exceeding 2 years from date of issue
- i.e. 1 Jan of first year to 31 Dec of second year
Under what conditions will a renewed PC be issued to a pharmacist?
Issued upon fulfilling CPE points requirements & on payment of prescribed fees
If a pharmacist has had his/her registration cancelled or suspended, how many days is he/she given to surrender his/her PC to SPC?
Within 14 days of notification by SPC of such cancellation / suspension.
Briefly describe what CPE is.
Continuing Professional Education:
- Planned & structured learning programme provided by an internal (own organisation) or external agent (e.g. PSS)
- Designed to promote continual development of knowledge, skills & attitudes of a practitioner beyond entry-level professional qualifications or formal degree.
- E.g. include seminars, conferences, short courses & postgraduate courses
What is the rationale of CPE for pharmacists?
To achieve professional self-improvement, so as to protect the public being harmed by professional incompetence.
Briefly explain the CPE requirements for the renewal of PC.
Active PC renewal: 50 CPE pts in 2 years preceding renewal
- > = 30% (15 pts) must be from pharmaceutical care programmes
- [Specialists ONLY] >= 30% (15 pts) must be from speciality branch
- Both do NOT stack; either/or where applicable!
Inactive PC renewal: 20 CPE pts in 2 years preceding
1 CPE pt = duration of CPE activity of > 1 h but < 2 h
When is the qualifying period to clock sufficient CPE points for the renewal of PC?
If validity of PC = 1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2022,
Qualifying period for PC renewal = 1 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2022
QC = PC validity period - 4 months
- 4 months is the administrative time prior to renewal of PC validity
- by law, must renew 1 month before expiry date of PC validity