Good pharmacy practice requirements could thus be summarised as follows:
| (a) | A pharmacist's first concern must be the welfare of the patient and of the public in general. |
| (b) | The core of pharmacy activity is the supply and distribution of medicines and other health care products, the provision of appropriate information and advice to the patient, ensuring the correct use of medicine and monitoring the effects of the use of medicines (pharmaceutical care). |
| (c) | Where applicable, pharmacists must adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice as determined by the Medicines Control Council to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medicine. |
| (d) | An integral part of the pharmacist's contribution to health care is the promotion of rational and economic prescribing and optimal use of medicines. |
| (e) | The objective of each element of the care provided by pharmacists is clearly defined, relevant to the individual and effectively communicated to and accepted by all those involved. |
| (f) | In satisfying these requirements: |
| (i) | the ongoing relationship with other health care professionals should be seen as a therapeutic alliance involving mutual trust and confidence in all matters relating to pharmacotherapeutics; |
| (ii) | the relationship with other pharmacists should be as colleagues, each seeking to improve pharmaceutical services, rather than as competitors; |
| (iii) | there must be input by the pharmacist regarding decisions on medicine use policy at all levels; |
| (iv) | the relationship with those involved in paying for pharmaceutical services should also be one of mutual trust, involving appropriate professional discretion from the pharmacist; |
| (v) | the pharmacist must be aware of essential medical and pharmaceutical information about each person to whom a pharmaceutical service is provided. Obtaining such information is simplified if the patient chooses to use only one pharmacy; |
| (vi) | the pharmacist needs independent, comprehensive, objective and current information about therapeutics and medicines in use; |
| (vii) | the philosophy underlying practice must be professionally rather than commercially orientated; |
| (viii) | pharmacists in each field of practice must accept personal responsibility for the self-assessment and maintenance of competence throughout their involvement in the profession; |
| (ix) | good pharmacy practice as published in rules by Council must be adhered to by all pharmacists practising in South Africa; and |
| (x) | educational programmes for entry to the profession and continuing professional development programmes should address contemporary practice appropriately as well as foreseeable changes in the practice of pharmacy. |
The following main elements of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) will be addressed in this document:
| (a) | Professional standards for premises. |
| (b) | Professional standards for services. |
| (c) | Professional standards for pharmacy human resources. |
| (d) | Professional standards for pharmacy management. |
The order in which chapters are presented does not reflect their relative importance in pharmacy practice. An extensive table of contents enables quick access to any aspect covered in this manual and it is recommended that these standards be kept at hand for easy reference in all situations.
It must be noted, however, that in cases where a particular issue is dealt with in terms of other legislation, including for example the acts and regulations dealing with employment, occupational health and safety and the public service, the requirements of the relevant legislation will take precedence over the standards laid down in this document.
