Abstract
Pharmacists would agree that pharmacy technicians are an integral component of the pharmacy team. As pharmacists strive to take on new and expanded roles in the delivery of services to Canadians, many pharmacy technicians are beginning to carry out some of the tasks traditionally in the exclusive domain of the pharmacist. The pharmacy world is realizing that, for pharmacists to successfully expand their role in today's health care environment, an increased reliance on pharmacy technicians is critical. In order for these advancements to proceed, we believe several things are needed:
There must be nationally standardized and recognized accreditation of training programs and/or certification of individuals to ensure pharmacy technicians have the necessary skills and training for all roles they will play. Legislation or regulations must allow pharmacy technicians to take on additional technical pharmacy tasks. Patients, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians themselves must be accepting of an enhanced role for pharmacy technicians.
But this is old news. The pharmacy sector in Canada is well past the stage of discussion on these points, and many jurisdictions have recently put into motion activities and initiatives that directly respond to these needs. Consider that:
The Ontario College of Pharmacists, already a forerunner in recognizing and supporting the qualifications of pharmacy technicians, is only steps away from having pharmacy technicians regulated as health professionals in Ontario. The Canadian College of Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs has committed to developing the process and standards to accredit community college pharmacy technician programs by 2009. The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada is drafting a national certification exam for pharmacy technicians, to be pilot-tested by several provinces in 2009. The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities has developed national entry-to-practice competencies for pharmacy technicians, to be approved in the fall of 2007. The Canadian Pharmacy Technicians Educators Association has produced and approved Educational Outcomes for Pharmacy Technician education programs. The Alberta College of Pharmacists has included in its by-laws a provision for a pharmacy technician registry. Further, the College, the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians, and the former Pharmacy Technician Certification Board of Alberta have formed a number of interrelated committees all working toward the common goal of regulation of pharmacy technicians. The British Columbia College of Pharmacists is exploring the creation of a new class of “pharmacy technician” college registrants.
And this is only a sampling of some of the recent progress being made on many fronts. It does not reflect, for example, the activities of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and the vast array of community and private colleges who have historically delivered tools and programs to cultivate the role of the pharmacy technician on the pharmacy team (and who continue to do so).
While many of the approaches being put in place result from collaboration among organizations and jurisdictions, there are many approaches being employed as stakeholders consider their individual priorities and the tailored solutions to best address them.
What is missing is a collective strategy that both supports and builds on the progress that has been made to date across the country. Two related initiatives are now underway to bridge this gap:
A comprehensive pan-Canadian, one-size-fits-all strategy for the education, credentialling, and roles of pharmacy technicians in the delivery of pharmacy services will likely never — and probably should never — be a reality. But the sharing of common issues and workable approaches can serve to benefit the entire pharmacy sector — employees, educators, employers, and regulators — and ultimately the Canadian public.
It's an exciting time to be a pharmacy technician on the team!