The Role of CPhM — Understanding Regulation and Governance in Pharmacy Practice
Regulation, along with professional and public participation plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe and ethical practice of pharmacy professionals. Explore how CPhM actively engages in professional regulation in Manitoba to uphold the public interest.
Definitions:
Regulation
The compilation of activities ensuring professionals practice safely, competently, and ethically.
Self-Regulation
The historic term for a system of regulation that grants professionals the privilege and responsibility to regulate their conduct, safeguarding the public during service provision.
Professional Regulation
Professional Regulation is the modern term that replaces “self-regulation.” It is now the preferred term to describe the regulation system for professions across Canada because it more accurately reflects the ever-increasing emphasis on public participation and the commitment by the governing body to act in the public interest and avoid activities that are perceived to be in the professional self-interest.
CPhM’s Role in Professional Regulation:
The Manitoba government has entrusted pharmacy professionals with the privilege of participating in the regulation of the pharmacy professions by establishing the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) through legislation. The legislation establishes the rules that the regulator must follow to regulate the professions.
The concept of “professional regulation” acknowledges that pharmacy professionals possess a unique body of knowledge and expertise that makes their contributions to the regulatory process fundamental to effectively regulate the professions within the confines of the legislation.
The government maintains accountability to the public interest in the regulatory process by appointing public representatives to both Council and statutory committees. CPhM further acknowledges how important public participation in regulation is by ensuring standing committees of Council also have public representation.
Key Mechanisms for Professional Regulation:
- Pharmacy professionals actively participate in regulation and governance by:
- Applying for council and committee appointments
- Participating in consultations
- Attending general meetings of council and annual general meetings of registrants.
- The Minister of Health appoints public representatives, ensuring meaningful public participation.
- Pharmacy professionals are accountable for their conduct, with CPhM providing guidance and oversight.
Maintaining the Privilege to Contribute to Professional Regulation:
CPhM ensures the continued privilege to contribute to regulating the professions by upholding the public interest and avoiding activities with perceived professional self-interest.
Public participation in all aspects of regulating the pharmacy professions is necessary to ensure that the professionals remain accountable to the public interest. CPhM achieves this level of participation by having public representatives appointed to Council, statutory, and standing committees.
CPhM Upholds Public Interest by:
- Establishing and maintaining registration criteria for qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- Setting and maintaining standards of practice and a code of ethics for safe and ethical pharmacy care.
- Handling complaints through fair investigation, prescribing remedial or disciplinary actions as required.