Today Online, September 21, 2007

WHILE the move to set up a separate register of specialised pharmacists is aimed at boosting the level of clinical care, it would be counter-productive if patients do not know whom to turn to for help.

Unlike doctors with areas of specialisation — such as oncology or gynaecology — who "can be easily identified by the public", it is "a lot more difficult" for patients to do the same for pharmacists with different areas of specialisation, according to Jurong GRC MP Halimah Yacob.

Which is why Mdm Halimah, the Government Parliamentary Committee (Health) chairman, urged the Health Ministry to make accessible to the public a list of specialist pharmacists, so that the register can be of "greater use to the public".

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Lam Pin Min suggested the formation of groups to look into the needs of the rapidly ageing population and increased prevalence of certain chronic illnesses in Singapore.

Also, these Specialist Training Committees can help provide the specialist manpower required by the bio-medical and medical communities, he said.

These ideas — which Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said would be taken up — were among others thrown up by the four MPs who spoke in Parliament yesterday about the Pharmacists Registration Bill.

This is the first time in over two decades that amendments are being made to the Pharmacists Registration Act.

These include compulsory continuing professional education for all pharmacists, just like doctors and dentists; converting the current Singapore Pharmacy Board into a new statutory body — the Singapore Pharmacy Council — and permitting the conditional and temporary registration of foreign-trained pharmacists.

There are about 1,500 registered pharmacists in Singapore. This figure needs to be ramped up, due to the growth in the healthcare and biomedical sciences sectors, Mr Khaw pointed out.

The Minister noted that pharmacists are no longer just "custodians of drugs" for patient care.

"They will play an increasingly important role as domain experts in drug evaluation, drug use and surveillance." Given their growing role, there is a need for a "more robust disciplinary and health inquiry framework" for pharmacists, which is modelled after the medical and dentist professions.

One suggested change is the ability to suspend or restrict the practice of a registered pharmacist involved in ongoing disciplinary proceedings against him. Currently, a pharmacist under investigation can still practise — a situation that could undermine the interests of the public or the pharmacist, Mr Khaw said.

Jasmine Yin
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