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Business Consultant Pharmacist
Primary Care Pharmacist Consultant
Qualified Persons In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Whether working in Community, Hospital, Industry or any other branch of the profession, traditionally pharmacists have always recognised the need to exercise a great deal of care in all of their professional activities. In the last decade, these activities have developed rapidly and with the emergence of many new and increasingly technical roles, this duty of care has become ever more onerous.
Sadly though, as the responsibilities of the pharmacist become more diverse and sometimes for part-time pharmacists, are practiced in unfamiliar situations, the patients served are becoming increasingly liability 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, subsequent legal and even possible compensation costs may prove extremely costly.
Historically, cover for an individual pharmacist has been provided by an 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, in situations where there is apportionment of blame, a pharmacist's legal case must be at least as good as that of the other Healthcare team members potentially involved. There are many additional sources of concern, e.g. an argument with a proprietor over terms, a conflict with a patient or even with the RPSGB. Should there be a need for legal representation at a coroner's inquest, RPSGB Statutory Committee or even compensation payment to a patient, the resultant costs could well be beyond the means of a pharmacist.
Click here for PIA Part Time 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 part-time pharmacists (paying a part-time registration fee to the RPSGB). Whether working in Community, Hospital, or any other branch of the profession or any combination (whether employed of self employed), the PIA scheme has been designed in such a way as to give that much required PEACE OF MIND in all the areas mentioned. Cover does not however include 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 scheme also provides many additional facilities and it is flexible in that it provides a choice of coverage. Should you decide to go back to full-time work during the year, the scheme can be easily upgraded to give necessary protection.