CPD Standards: International Approaches to CPD

In this step, Chiang shares various internationally adopted approaches to CPD standards. He will mention how UK and GPP approaches this dilemma.

CPD Standards Key Points

In UK, the Centre for postgraduate pharmacy education designs and delivers a variety of programs via different forms of media based on learners’ self-identified needs. This program requires the participant to maintain a learning portfolio documenting learning needs, achievements, and outcomes. Annually, pharmacists are selected randomly to submit their learning portfolios for review and competency tests. Those who fall below standards are moved from self-directed CPD stream to a peer-supported CPD stream.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation GPP have four requirements for pharmacists:

• A pharmacist’s first concern is the welfare of patients.
• Core of the pharmacy activity is to help patients make the best use of medicines.
• Promotion of rational and economic prescribing as well as dispensing.
• Objective of pharmacy service is relevant to the patient and is clearly defined and effectively communicated to all those involved.

GPP also requires four roles of a pharmacist:

• Prepare, obtain, store, secure, distribute, administer, dispense, and dispose of medical products.
• Provide effective medication therapy management.
• Maintain and improve professional performance.
• Contribute to improving the effectiveness of the healthcare system and public health.

In role three, function A, the GPP states that pharmacists should plan and implement CPD strategies to improve current and future performance.

In terms of CPD, the GPP require:

• Pharmacists to accept personal responsibility for maintaining and assessing their own competence throughout their professional lives.
• National pharmacy professional organizations to reform the assessment and monitoring to ensure that pharmacists maintain standards and comply with requirements for CPD.
• Educational programs should appropriately address both current and foreseeable changes in pharmacy practice. A workforce framework ensuring the competence of pharmacy staff throughout CPD program should be set up.

In role three, function A, the GPP states that pharmacists should plan and implement CPD strategies to improve current and future performance.

Besides the GPP, national minimum standards should be implemented:

• Education should be lifelong
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing education or continuing professional development to improve clinical knowledge, skills, and performance.
• Update knowledge and skills about complementary and alternative therapies.
• Update knowledge and engage in the implementation of new technology and automation in pharmacy practice where feasible.
• Update knowledge on changes to information on medical products.

To learn more about cpd training, check out this course: Good Pharmacy Practice: Pharmaceutical services by Taipei medical university.