Unit of competency

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to source and use information on regulatory information and pharmacy compliance procedures so that requirements can be followed throughout customer transactions involving the supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3). Requests for therapeutic advice or the supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) must be referred to the pharmacist.

This unit underpins effective performance for pharmacy or dispensary assistant roles in a community pharmacy. When supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) they work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.

This unit incorporates the requirement for pharmacy and dispensary assistants to comply with federal, state and territory law and Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for supplying scheduled Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3). At the time of publication, they are not, however, required to hold an occupational licence or to be certified as competent in this unit to supply scheduled medicines.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Working in Industry

Unit Sector

Community Pharmacy

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ca051b1b-5101-4ec2-ac1c-49699303188d

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Not applicable.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

• obtain and interpret information about the scheduling of medicines from the following sources:

• federal, state or territory departments of health
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP)
• industry association websites and professional publications

• seek and document information on the following key pharmacy legal requirements for the supply of scheduled medicines:

• product placement and advertising of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) items in a pharmacy
• storage requirements for Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3), Prescription Only Medicine (S4) and Controlled Drug (S8) scheduled items in a pharmacy
• role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy and dispensary assistants
• circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist

• access and interpret this range of organisational procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3):

• questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
• triggers for referral to a pharmacist
• maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

• sources of information on scheduled medicines, legal and industry requirements:

• federal, state and territory departments of health
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP)
• industry association websites and professional publications
• Pharmacy Board of Australia

• basic aspects of the system for scheduling medicines and the role of:

• Advisory Committee in Chemicals Scheduling
• Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in approving registration of new medicines

• purpose of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) and basic features of these schedule types:

• general sales medicines (unscheduled)
• Pharmacy Medicine (S2)
• Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3)
• Prescription Only Medicine (S4)
• Caution (S5)
• Poison (S6)
• Dangerous Poison (S7)
• Controlled Drug (S8)
• Prohibited Substance (S9)

• reasons for determining scheduling especially quantities and concentration of active ingredients in packaged medicine
• common medicine categories for Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3)
• basic aspects of key federal and relevant state or territory legal requirements for the supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products:

• product placement and advertising of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) scheduled items in a pharmacy
• storage requirements for Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) scheduled items in a pharmacy
• role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy and dispensary assistants

• storage requirements for other scheduled items commonly found in a pharmacy:

• Prescription Only Medicine (S4)
• Controlled Drug (S8)

• basic aspects of industry guidelines for supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products

• Pharmacy Board of Australia guidelines and directives
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards – provisions relevant to the provision of non-prescription medicines and therapeutic devices
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Standards for the Provision of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines in Community Pharmacy

• typical schedule and content of pharmacy procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines and their importance in managing compliance with the law:

• questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
• collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer
• identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist
• maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information

• privacy and confidentiality principles relevant to pharmacy product transactions with customers
• typical schedule of questions asked to collect information about customer needs and their rationale:

• who the product is for
• their condition or symptoms
• duration of symptoms
• other existing health conditions
• other medicines currently using

• circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist and typical schedule of triggers:

• customer who is:

• a child under 2 years
• an aged person
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• taking other medicines

• customer has:

• had the complaint for some time
• other health conditions
• used the product before but is not satisfied with its efficacy

• customer appears to be:

• sick
• angry
• confused
• dissatisfied
• uncertain
• under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• pharmacy assistant is unsure and needs confirmation of the medicine selected, even if the product has been requested by name
• request for Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3)

• roles of pharmacy and dispensary assistants in finalising the supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and other products after pharmacist provision of therapeutic advice:

• providing or reiterating directions for product use and confirming understanding
• recommending companion products or aids
• providing supporting consumer information
• processing the financial transaction.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in a pharmacy with designated front of pharmacy and dispensary areas. This can be:

• an industry workplace
• a simulated industry environment.

Assessment must ensure use of:

• information technology hardware and software
• online information systems
• current guidelines, directives and standards, issued by government regulators or industry groups covering scheduling requirements and related legal compliance issues
• current Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) and amendments or plain English guidelines
• organisational procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors, and:

• have worked in the pharmacy sector for at least two years.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ca051b1b-5101-4ec2-ac1c-49699303188d