AJP podcast host speaks to PDL’s Gary West about the key questions pharmacists had over the past year – and forecasts some challenges and opportunities for 2024

Senior professional officer at PDL Gary West says that pharmacists have shown significant interest over 2023 in deferring and declining supply, which he says is partly related to the 60-day dispensing issue.

“We’re experiencing a number of calls from employee pharmacists particularly who are finding it very challenging to decide what their obligations and responsibilities were in regards to assessing a 60 day prescription for its validity,” he says.

There’s also been high interest in incident reporting and professional boundaries. “I think sometimes pharmacists don’t think about that process of documenting incidents or other interactions that could go pear-shaped,” he says.

West encouraged pharmacists to brush up on their obligations in regards to professional boundaries.

“Particularly this time of year, even though it’s important all year round we are seeing an increase, a little bit, in regards to professional boundary complaints, where allegations are being made against pharmacists breaching those expectations – and it’s not just sexual harassment, though that is certainly one of the topics, but things like bullying, discrimination, other activities that are considered to be a breach of boundaries.”

Pharmacists also had to ask questions about the changes to opioid replacement therapy – where the implementation was “a nightmare,” West said, despite the importance of the changes – as well as a range of hiccups with e-prescribing.

PDL is currently helping its members with clarification on Covid vaccines – particularly regarding conflicting advice and the latest jab to hit community pharmacies – and 2023 has also seen growth in inquiries about dispensing medicinal cannabis.

“It’s area where there’s lots of activity,” says West. “The volumes are increasingly significantly, there’s a lot of challenges associated with things like online prescribers, telehealth prescribers, vertical integration between prescribers, suppliers and dispensers, in some cases, and there’s obviously a lot of regulation around it.”

He also has some advice for pharmacists in 2024 and into the future…and how pharmacists can be prepared for the changes, risks and opportunities they are likely to face.

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