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Business Consultant Pharmacist
Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant
Qualified Persons In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Since the well-being of patients is at stake, pharmacists have always exercised a great deal of care in all of their professional dealings. As medicines have become more potent, this duty of care has become even more pronounced. In many instances i.e. when working in a community or hospital pharmacy, the Code of Ethics and other standards produced by the RPSGB have guided pharmacists, enabling them to understand and hence adopt practices that are acceptable for the profession. Additionally, pharmacists could always consult with colleagues who were experienced in specific aspects of pharmaceutical service.
Increasingly however there are a group of pharmacists providing wide range of consultancy services. These services may involve issues of a strictly pharmaceutical nature to do with medicines and heathcare or they may involve provision of advice or assistance in areas of a more commercial or organisational nature. It may be that these consultancy services are being provided to other pharmacists, to pharmacy organisations or even to individuals or organisations of a non-pharmaceutical origin.
Generally speaking there is little in the way if published material or central guidance issued and it may be that very few pharmacists have these particular skills or experience. Generally in these situations there is no peer guidance readily available, and that is why the demand for such consultancy services exists. There is no doubt that the growing number of pharmacists involved in the provision of these challenging and often unique services find their involvement rewarding and enjoyable.
Sadly though, as the activities become ever more diverse, the recipients of the services are becoming ever more litigation conscious, as such this kind of activity inherently attracts a much greater degree of risk. If a client has paid a fee for the provision of a service and something goes wrong or if any advice offered is erroneous, then there are likely to be consequences. Legal proceedings to attribute blame and award damages can be long and arduous.
There are many additional and more common sources of conflict e.g. the pursuit of a claim if an injury occurs whilst at work, a dispute over the terms of a contract or even a conflict with a local RPSGB or other inspector. Furthermore, should there be a need for legal advice or representation at a coroner's inquest, RPSGB Statutory Committee or even a compensation payment to a client or patient, the resultant costs could be well beyond the means of a pharmacist.
Click here for PIA Business Consultant insurance
which is now available through The PDA.
Such insurance represents the only realistic way in which these costs could be met and such a policy can now be taken out in your own right. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is now bringing this need to the attention of pharmacists. The RPSGB Code of Ethics now requires all pharmacists to work with PI insurance protection. This Pharmacy Insurance Agency (PIA) policy has been designed specifically for the protection of the individual pharmacist, it meets fully with the requirements of business consultant pharmacists whether employed or self employed or working in a full or part-time capacity. As well as providing cover in the event of harm being caused to be a patient through an error or omission, cover extends to situations where the harm caused is more of a commercial nature.
The PIA scheme provides PEACE OF MIND not only when providing specialist services but also for any more traditional community, hospital or locum based activities. The scheme introduces flexibility in that it provides a choice of coverage.