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Business Consultant Pharmacist
Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant
Qualified Persons In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Traditionally, pharmacists have always recognised the need to exercise a great deal of care in all of their professional dealings. With the introduction of PMR's, needle exchange schemes, residential home services and now even diagnostic tests, this duty of care has become ever more onerous. Sadly though, as the responsibilities become more diverse, the society in which we live is becoming ever more litigation conscious. Should the unthinkable happen and a patient is seriously harmed through an error, the result can be very alarming. Human considerations apart, the resultant investigation may involve attempts to apportion blame and with reputations at stake the subsequent legal and even compensation costs may prove extremely costly.
Historically, cover for an individual pharmacist has been provided by the employer. Increasingly however pharmacists are coming to realise, that should there be a claim from a patient, any ensuing action taken by their employer's insurance company may well serve their employer's interests but may leave them individually exposed. As many incidents involve more than one member of the Healthcare team, a pharmacist's legal case must be at least as good as that of other Healthcare team members potentially involved. There are many additional and more common sources of conflict, e.g. an argument with an employer over terms and conditions, a conflict with a patient or even an RPSGB inspector. Should there be a need for legal advice or legal representation at an Industrial Tribunal or RPSGB Statutory Committee or even a compensation payment to a patient, the resultant costs could be well beyond the means of a pharmacist. Without independent insurance protection, the individual interests of an employed pharmacist can often be poorly served.
Click here for PIA Community Pharmacist insurance
which is now available through The PDA.
Such insurance represents the only realistic way in which these costs could be met - 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. Indeed 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 employee community pharmacists. The scheme has been designed in such a way as to give that much required PEACE OF MIND in all the areas mentioned and provides many additional facilities. It is flexible in that it provides a choice of coverage. Cover does not, however, include protection for any more specialised consultancy work undertaken in a G.P. Surgery (This is only covered by the more specialist PIA 'Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant' scheme available upon application.) The policy provides an optional extension which allows employee pharmacists to work as occasional locums.