Do you know what publications are required in your pharmacy?

You are required by Law to have available in your pharmacy the latest editions, and all published amendments or supplements to those editions of the publications listed in the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s Guidelines on practice-specific issues—Guideline 1 (List of reference texts for pharmacists).

These may be in hard copy or electronic format provided that ALL pharmacists at the pharmacy can access electronic versions by way of a password.

As at March 2018, the following required publications are:

a) the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF)  (24th Edition)

b) the Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) (2018 Edition)

c) Therapeutic Guidelines series (the complete current editions in hardcopy) or eTG

d) a source of current Australian product information and consumer medicine information

• MIMS Annual with MIMS Abbreviated (MIMS 2017)

• e-MIMS

• MIMS Online, or

• AusDI Advanced/AusDI.

e) a drug interactions reference (updated at least quarterly)

• AusDI Advanced/AusDI

• Drug Interaction Facts – Facts and Comparisons

• eMIMS

• MIMS Online

• Micromedex

• Stockley’s Drug Interactions Online, or

• Lexicomp Interactions.

f) the AMH Children’s Dosing Companion (2017 Edition)

g) the Australian Don’t Rush to Crush Handbook (2nd Edition)

h) an evidence-based reference work on complementary and alternative medicines

• Herbs and Natural Supplements: An evidence-based guide. Braun and Cohen

• Herbal Medicines. Barnes, Anderson and Phillipson

• Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements package (each resource can be independently accessed through MedicinesComplete)

• MedlinePlus: Drugs, Supplements, and Herbal Information 

• Natural & Alternative Treatments: EBSCO, or

• Natural Medicines (formerly Natural Standard and Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database).

i) copies of the legislation controlling the practice of pharmacy:

• the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law).

In New South Wales this is the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a and the Health Practitioner Regulation (New South Wales) Regulation 2016 (available at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)

• Drugs, medicines and poisons legislation  

In New South Wales this is the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 No 31 and the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 plus the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods (Poisons List) Proclamation 2016 (available at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)

• Standards, codes and guidelines relevant to pharmacy practice for each jurisdiction (including information published by relevant government departments and jurisdictional pharmacy premises registering authorities)

• Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP). The current version is March 2018. This is available online only at www.tga.gov.au/publication/poisons-standard-susmp

The Guide to the New South Wales Medicines and Poisons Schedules published by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (New South Wales Branch) is an acceptable alternative.

j) the Australian Immunisation Handbook (2017 Edition). This is available online at www.immunise.health.gov.au

k) the professional practice standards and guidelines published by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) available at www.psa.org.au and The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) available at www.shpa.org.au

l) the Pharmacy Board of Australia guidelines available at www.pharmacyboard.gov.au

m) the Merck Manual (Professional Version)  (Merck Sharp and Dohme). Available from www.merckmanuals.com/professional

(Note: Unrestricted access to references i) – m) is available from relevant websites).

 

Please ensure that your publications are up to date and that all pharmacists are able to show that they are accessible when the pharmacy is routinely inspected for compliance with the legislation by the Council Inspector.