Overview
A "National Model Continuing Competence Program for Canadian Pharmacists" was approved by NAPRA in April 2000, to support the ongoing competence of Canadian pharmacists in response to increasing demands from the public, provincial governments and third party payers that health professionals be held accountable for the delivery of high quality services. The profession has indicated its support for a national program, as a proactive initiative to ensure that both the public and pharmacists are well served. The concept of continuing competence is not new for most pharmacists in Canada, indeed a number of provincial regulatory authorities have had mandatory continuing education programs for their members in place for many years and more recently, a number have launched comprehensive, formal continuing competence programs.
The model program, based on NAPRA's "Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry-to-Practice" and "Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Pharmacists", was designed to satisfy two distinct purposes. One is to facilitate pharmacists' professional development and assist direct-care practitioners in the identification of their strengths and weaknesses in providing patient care, in a supportive, non-punitive manner. Another goal of the program is to ensure the ongoing competence of pharmacists in support of the public protection mandate of the Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities.
An important benefit of this national model program is that it supports labour mobility for pharmacists, in compliance with the provisions of the Agreement on Internal Trade. Participation in this Program is a component of the profession's Mutual Recognition Agreement, endorsed by provincial and territorial pharmacy licensing bodies. This Agreement, which came into effect on July 1, 2001, reduces barriers for pharmacists seeking licensure in other provinces or territories.
The continued development of standards and program components is under the auspices of NAPRA's National Continuing Competence Program Core Steering Committee.
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