Professional practice following regulatory change: An evaluation using principles of "Better Regulation"

COVID-19 related regulatory change for pharmacists – The case for its retention post the pandemic

“…Prior to the regulatory changes precipitated by the pandemic, the perceptions of community pharmacists in Ireland of the model in place to regulate their practice as provided by the Pharmacy Act 2007 and associated regulations including those in place to regulate the sale and supply of medicines, were researched. 48 This study explored the “lived experience” of pharmacists in community practice with the model of regulation as implemented and enforced by the PSI and their perception of it as fulfilling the seven principles of “better regulation”: Necessity; Effectiveness/Targeted; Proportionality; Transparency; Accountability; Consistency and Agility. 48 , 49 , 50 In summary, the model of regulation and its implementation by the PSI was not perceived overall by community pharmacists as fulfilling the principles of better regulation.…”

“… 48 This study explored the “lived experience” of pharmacists in community practice with the model of regulation as implemented and enforced by the PSI and their perception of it as fulfilling the seven principles of “better regulation”: Necessity; Effectiveness/Targeted; Proportionality; Transparency; Accountability; Consistency and Agility. 48 , 49 , 50 In summary, the model of regulation and its implementation by the PSI was not perceived overall by community pharmacists as fulfilling the principles of better regulation. While there was agreement that the Act and associated regulation was necessary, its implementation by the PSI was not viewed as being effective, targeted, proportional and consistent.…”

“…40 However, agile regulation heretofore has not been perceived as a feature of the regulation of pharmacy in Ireland by community pharmacists. 48 The model of regulation of pharmacy in Ireland was generally viewed as being rigid and unable to readily respond to emergent changes in pharmacy practice, such as societal and technological developments that have an impact on the delivery of pharmacy services. Preliminary findings from a more extensive and ongoing follow-up study commenced in early 2020 surveying the views of a wider cohort of community pharmacists, appear to confirm this view, particularly in areas such as information technology.…”

“…It has been reported that community pharmacists perceive the PSI as requiring an absolute standard of best practice that was not commensurate with the practicalities of providing front-line pharmacy services. 48 They viewed the PSI as enforcing a series of rigid “ black & white” requirements that fail to acknowledge the need for pharmacists to apply discretion to act in the best interests of their patients. Some of the legal requirements informing this viewpoint was the inability of a pharmacist to lawfully provide an emergency supply of a controlled drug at the request of a patient or to dispense a prescription for a controlled drug that failed to exactly adhere to the handwriting requirements as set out in law.…”

“…Based on the findings of Lynch & Kodate and the preliminary findings of the follow-up study, it is unlikely that pharmacists would advocate a return to the more restrictive requirements for the supply of a controlled drug that pertained prior to the advent of the COVID-19 emergency. 48 , 51…”