The Tribune

THE Bahamas Pharmacy Council is making plans to increase the number of inspectors to ensure all pharmacies are inspected in a timely manner in 2014.

The council, in its New Year’s statement, said it would also continue to draft regulations and policies, and work towards a national examination for all pharmacist applicants.

It added that it is also putting together a plan to reduce waiting times and steps for registration and licensing, particularly for renewals, and plans to make the payment of fees easier through various banking alternatives and improving its Internet services “in order to offer more efficient service to registrants and to the general public”.

The council said it was also formatting a plan to improve the financial management of its resources, and reduce spending where possible. “We owe it to ourselves and to our country to properly manage all funds and be accountable for it,” it added

The Council said it was concerned about office space and privacy, and is looking into the possibility of relocating its offices.

“We are also in the process of putting together a task force to produce a Strategic Working Plan to follow over the next three years,” the council said.

According to the Pharmacy Act 2009, the council’s mandate is to regulate and control the practice of pharmacy; to govern and regulate the standard of practice for professionals involved in the practice of pharmacy; to establish, develop and maintain standards of knowledge, skill and professional ethics for persons involved in the profession and practice of pharmacy; to govern and regulate the standards and practice of all facilities utilised in the practice of pharmacy; to register all persons entitled to be registered under this Act; to register all premises or facilities entitled to be registered as pharmacies under this Act; to authorise persons as sellers of poisons; to issue licences under the Act; to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act.

It also facilitates the receipt of any complaints regarding the practice of pharmacy, and individuals or entities involved within the profession of pharmacy.