The Pharmacy Council’s media releases can be read below

High Assessment Centre pass rate a welcome boost for pharmacist workforce

The high pass rate in the November Assessment Centre (AC) for intern pharmacists will be a welcome boost for New Zealand’s pharmacist workforce. The Pharmacy Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand congratulate the interns on their achievement.

The November AC pass rate is almost 80%, which is an excellent result. This means 144 interns are now eligible to apply and register in the pharmacist scope of practice.

Prescribing principles developed jointly for safe prescribing across health professions

A joint set of prescribing principles has been developed collaboratively by seven responsible authorities that regulate health practitioners who prescribe, to help ensure public safety by promoting consistent prescribing practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Pharmacy Council Chief Executive Michael Pead says that the Principles for Quality and Safe Prescribing Practice provide guidance on expected behaviours for prescribing and will be applicable to all prescribers, irrespective of professional background or practice setting. 

Outstanding Assessment Centre results a win for New Zealand pharmacy

A nearly 100 percent pass rate in the mid-year Assessment Centre (AC) for intern pharmacists will provide much needed help for the nation’s pharmacy workforce.

This excellent result will mean that 43 interns are now eligible to register in the pharmacist scope of practice.

The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand and the Pharmacy Council congratulated the interns on their achievement.

New Pharmacy Council Disciplinary Levy and Annual Practising Certificate Fee

The Pharmacy Council’s Disciplinary levy and Annual Practising Certificate (APC) fee will increase by a total of $75 (including GST) for most practitioners and will take effect from the new recertification year starting from 1 April 2024.

Excellent Assessment Centre results welcomed by Council

The Pharmacy Council welcomes the pass rate of 86 percent for interns who participated in November’s Assessment Centre 2023, with 198 interns having now met the requirements to register for the pharmacist scope of practice and practise independently.

New Competence and Accreditation Standards

Pharmacy Council published the new Competence Standards for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Prescribers along with the new Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Programmes. The new competence standards become an integral part of the pharmacy profession in Aotearoa starting from 1 April 2024.

New Pharmacy Council APC fee and Disciplinary Levy from 1 April 2023

The Pharmacy Council will increase the APC fee for the recertification year beginning 1 April 2023 by 4.1% being the minimum required to successfully deliver the outcomes of the 13 regulatory functions required of it under s118 of the HPCAA.

Safe pharmacy practice focus in face of low pass rate for pharmacy interns

The Pharmacy Council is concerned that this year’s Assessment Centre pass rate for pharmacy interns is lower than it has ever been, but says it is important to maintain safe pharmacy practice.

Pharmacy Team Relief Fund extended

The Pharmacy Team Relief Fund which has been supporting pharmacy teams since October 2020 has been extended.

New appointments to Pharmacy Council board

The Council announces three new appointments and the reappointment of two existing members.  See the Media Release for full details. 

Fraudulent Prescriptions

Pharmacy Council’s actions focused on ensuring high quality practice.  

Relief on the way for pandemic pressured pharmacy teams

Some well-earned respite will soon be available for community pharmacy teams who have been at the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic response since it started in March.

Pharmacy Council freezes APC fee and provides rebate from underspend

The Pharmacy Council will keep its Annual Practising Certificate fees at the same level for the next financial year as it works to support pharmacists facing pandemic pressures.

New recertification roll-out informed by pharmacist feedback

The Pharmacy Council is easing in the rollout of its new recertification programme and easing existing requirements in recognition of the pandemic workload pressures facing pharmacists.