Sunday, January 27, 2013

Good Pharmacy Practice

GPP is defined as "the practice of pharmacy that responds to the needs of the people who use the pharmacists’ services to provide optimal, evidence-based care. To support this practice it is essential that there be an established national framework of quality standards and guidelines."

The 2011 GPP document underlines the requirements of Good Pharmacy Practice and how to set standards required for GPP, (which also imply a quality management framework and a strategic plan for developing services).
GPP are organised around 4 major roles for pharmacists
  1. Role 1: Prepare, obtain, store, secure, distribute, administer, dispense and dispose of medical products
  2. Role 2: Provide effective medication therapy management
  3. Role 3: Maintain and improve professional performance
  4. Role 4: Contribute to improve effectiveness of the health-care system and public health
Each function is structured in several roles, and for each role, a list of minimum national standards to be established have been set.

WHO/FIP GPP should serve as a guidance document for the development of specific standards of GPP at national levels by national pharmacists associations and other related stakeholders.
When establishing minimum standards on GPP, it is important to define the roles played by pharmacists, as expected
by patients and society. Secondly, relevant functions for which pharmacists have direct responsibility and accountability need to be determined within each role. Thirdly, minimum national standards should then be established, based upon the need to demonstrate competency in a set of activities supporting each function and role.