Licensed Pharmacist System In China

Licensed Pharmacist System in China /Asian Journal of Social Pharmacy,2007,2(2)

Licensed Pharmacist System in China HUANG Shi-xi

(Alliant International University, San Diego 10455, USA)

Abstract Objective To review the development and practice of licensed pharmacist system in China and provide ideas for its reform. Method Methods of literature analysis were adopted to describe the history and practice of licensed pharmacist system in China. Results and Conclusion The future of licensed pharmacist system in China is promising. Licensed pharmacists will play a much important role in delivering medication and pharmaceutical care. Keywords: licensed pharmacist; system; management

中國執業藥師資格制度簡介 黃熙熙 (Alliant國際大學, 聖地亞哥 10455, 美國)

摘要：目的 瞭解中國執業藥師制度的歷史和現狀，為其改革提供思路。方法 通過採用文獻分析，描述了中國 執業藥師制度的歷史和現狀。結果與結論 執業藥師制度前景光明。隨著制度的深入推行，執業藥師將會在提 供優良藥品和藥學服務的過程中發揮更大的作用。 關鍵詞：執業藥師；制度；管理

The licensed pharmacist system in China has been

system in China was from 1994 to 1998. As a response to the

implemented for 13 years since its first establishment in

central government’s policy of implementing two certificate

1994. During these 13 years, this system has developed

systems (i.e., academic certificate and occupational

tremendously through continuous reform and exploration.

qualification) and the availability of standards for various

This paper gives a brief introduction of the licensed

occupational qualifications and corresponding recruitments

pharmacist system in China.

in November 1993, the Provisional Regulation of Licensed Pharmacist was promulgated by the State Medicine

1 The history of licensed pharmacist system in China

Administration and Ministry of Personnel in March 1994. One thousand qualified pharmacists were licensed in the same year, indicating the initiation of the system in the area

The first development stage of licensed pharmacist

of Western medicine.

Author’s information:HUANG Xi-xi,Alliant International University. Major research areas:administration and finance.Tel:1-858-729-3526.

In July 1995, the Provisional Regulation of Licensed Pharmacist for traditional Chinese medicine was promulga-

E-mail:[email protected]

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Licensed Pharmacist System in China /Asian Journal of Social Pharmacy,2007,2(2)

ted by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese

demonstration chain drugstores in several big cities like

Medicine and Ministry of Personnel. A total of 434 licensed

Beijing, Guangzhou, and Nanjing. This practice sent out

pharmacists were designated in the same year, signifying

a strong and definite signal that this new model of drug

the implementation of the system in both Western and

management would soon be implemented in China. This

traditional Chinese medicines.

policy created a great demand for licensed pharmacists

The first license qualification examination for Western

to ensure the quality of drug and conduct pharmaceutical

medicine practitioners was conducted in October 1995;

care. It was a main driving force for increased number of

the first examination for traditional Chinese medicine

pharmacists in a short period after its implementation.

practitioners was given in October 1996. In January 1997,

In January 2000, the Provisional Regulation of Trading

Chinese government officially brought forward the licensed

Administration of Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs

pharmacist system in China.

was released which stipulated that employment of licensed

In this stage, the policy was put in force only among

pharmacists was one of the most important conditions for

practitioners working in the manufacturing and distribution

drugstores to sell prescription drugs and non-prescription

sectors. Little effort was exerted to implement the function

drugs of the first category. In addition, pharmacists in the

of licensed pharmacists and the number of licensed

store needed to fulfill duties required by the regulation.

pharmacists increased slowly. However, this stage laid a

Later on, there were similar personnel requirements in Good

solid foundation for the future development of the system.

Supplying Practice (GSP) which also gave an impetus to the

The State Council undertook a fundamental reform in

demand for licensed pharmacists in China.

1998. As a result, the State Drug Administration (SDA), an

In August 2001, SDA issued a 2004-2005 work plan

integrated drug supervisory and administrative department,

for carrying out national licensed pharmacist management,

was finally established in order to enforce the supervision

which further reinforced the implementation of pharmacist

and regulation of drugs. SDA was empowered with the

policy in the settings of drug manufacturing, distribution

authority to implement the licensed pharmacist system. This

and utilization, and set down specific measures for

was a milestone in the development of China’s pharmacist

accelerating the increase of pharmacists. In September 2001,

management system which became an important component

the Qualification Accreditation Center of SDA developed a

of drug supervisory and administrative system of China.

software program for improving the efficiency of pharmacist

In April 1999, the revised edition of the Provisional

registration.

Regulation of Licensed Pharmacist was promulgated by

In July 2002, in order to improve the Compendium

the newly founded SDA and the Ministry of Personnel.

of Licensed Pharmacist Examination SDA released a new

According to this new edition of the regulation, the licensed

version in which some contents were revised and enriched

pharmacist system was also applied to practitioners in

to address the changing requirements of pharmacists’

medical institutions and the two management systems

knowledge, skills and competence for their practice.

for Western and traditional Chinese medicines were

In September 2002, the Implementing Ordinance of

combined into one system using uniform policy, curriculum,

Drug Administration Law went into effect which stipulated

examination, registration, and management and classified

that employment of licensed pharmacists was one of

practice. Furthermore, additional regulation items on

the prerequisites for drug retailing enterprises that sell

registration and continuing education were enacted. In the

prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs of the first

same year, the requirement of minimum working period for

category. This was the first time that licensed pharmacists’

licensed pharmacists was relaxed and the examination cycle

status and function were recognized in the form of law,

was changed from once a year to once every two years. The

which made the importance of pharmacists become much

new examination arrangement was more appropriate and

greater than before.

reasonable.

Since 2002, those pharmacists who met specific

In October 1999, prescription and non-prescription

requirements could participate in the one-subject

classification system was carried out in selected

examination. This policy, laid in 2001, was welcomed and

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Licensed Pharmacist System in China /Asian Journal of Social Pharmacy,2007,2(2)

highly praised by pharmaceutical professionals. It greatly

Some experts estimated that there should be 1,000,000

motivated their enthusiasm in taking part in the qualification

licensed pharmacists to meet the needs in the future. The

examination.

distribution of pharmacists in different sectors and regions

China Licensed Pharmacist Association (CLPA) was

was unbalanced. Eighty percent of pharmacists worked

established in February 2003. As a national academic

in the manufacturing sector and hospitals, while less

organization of pharmacists, CLPA’s mission is to safeguard

than 10 percent in community pharmacies; 70 percent of

rights and interests, implement self-discipline, offer services

pharmacists were in East China and only 30 percent in West

and conduct coordination. In December 2003, the Journal

China[1].

of China Licensed Pharmacists sponsored by CLPA started

Nowadays, community pharmacies are becoming

publication. CLPA also hosts the China Licensed Pharmacist

the most accessible primary health care facilities. From

Forum (CLPF).

2001 to 2004, a transitional policy implemented by SDA

With China’s affiliation to the World Trade Organization,

allowed Practicing Pharmacists to take the responsibility

the innovation of administrative and inspection system of

of licensed pharmacists to safeguard the quality of drug

Chinese government, the formation of market economy and

and pharmaceutical care because of shortage of licensed

the legislation of the licensed pharmacist system, CLPA

pharmacists in community pharmacies. During those years,

would play a much more important role. In 2003, CLPA

patients received drugs and services from both practicing

launched a long-distance continuing education system

pharmacists and licensed pharmacists. The key to this

which is pharmacist-oriented and authorized by the State

problem is to increase the number of licensed pharmacists

Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Furthermore, CLPA

quickly and to ensure the monopoly of their function.

promulgated the Required and Elective Courses of Licensed

In those community pharmacies employing pharmacists,

Pharmacist Continuing Education (2003 Edition) in May

pharmaceutical care is not well provided by pharmacists.

2003. SFDA revised and released a new version of the

Their major practice is still dispensing drugs to patients

Temporary Provisions of Continuing Education for Licensed

without conducting other services. The lack of appreciation

Pharmacists in November 2003.

for pharmaceutical services by health professionals, patients

From August 2000 to November 2001, three research

and health authorities is a major barrier to changing the

groups comprised of experts were organized by SDA

pharmacists’ role or practice in community pharmacies.

to translate foreign laws and regulation of licensed

Some problems do exist in our services. First, nearly

pharmacists, compare different licensed pharmacist

80 percent of patients get their medication from hospitals.

systems, and review the licensed pharmacist management

Community pharmacies dispense fewer prescriptions

in China. Based on this work, the Law of Chinese Licensed

because hospitals are unwilling to lose their economic

Pharmacists was drafted and then submitted to the State

interest from drug sales. Under current health care

Council in October 2003. Although this law was not

system, most licensed pharmacists prefer working in

released yet, the effort had an influence on the increase of

hospital pharmacies than in community pharmacies,

licensed pharmacists so much that there were 14,174 new

and community pharmacies practice in China is usually

licensed pharmacists in 2006 and the total number reached

restricted to dispensing drugs. Pharmaceutical service is

143,681 by the end of 2006.

rarely provided because it is not profitable. In addition, licensed pharmacists in hospitals are not given adequate

2 Licensed pharmacists’ practice in China

recognition for the reason that this policy is established by SDA rather than Ministry of Health. It’s necessary to

Although the total number of licensed pharmacists

better implement licensed pharmacist system in hospitals

reached 143,681, on average, there was only 1 licensed

to encourage licensed pharmacists to change their work

pharmacist per 13,000 people in China while the ratio

from the traditional model to the pharmaceutical care

attained 1:800-1500 in many Western countries. There was

model. Second, people’s self-care consciousness is not well-

big shortage of licensed pharmacists in pharmacy practice.

established. The majority of customers know little or do not

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Licensed Pharmacist System in China /Asian Journal of Social Pharmacy,2007,2(2)

know about licensed pharmacists’ duties and responsibility

promising. Licensed pharmacists will play a much important

at all. Pharmaceutical service is just a concept among

role in delivering medication and pharmaceutical care.

professionals which is not known by the public. There is

Reference

still a long way to go to enhance people’s awareness of selfmedication and the function of licensed pharmacists.

[1]FANG Yu, HUANG Tai-kang, YANG Shi-min. Licensed pharmacists’

3 Conclusion

practice in community pharmacy in China. Asian Journal of Social Pharmacy, 2006,1(1):1-3.

The future of licensed pharmacist system in China is

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