Professional Competencies for

Pharmacist

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 1. Domains:

The range of competencies required in a pharmacist who is entering practice

can be arranged according to four Domains.

1. Professional and Ethical Practice

2. Dispensing Medicines
3. Promote and contribute to the optimal use of medicines
4. Manage work issues and relationships

There is some overlap between the four domains but they contain most of the
professional activities that are associated with a Pharmacist. Therefore, it
follows that the Pharmacist should be competent in all four domains.

2. Competencies:

Within each of the 4 domains, there are 12 related competencies and these
are listed below

1. Professional and Ethical Practice

1.1 Self management

1.2 Commitment to Quality
1.3 Fulfils their legal and regulatory obligations as a Pharmacist and employer
1.4 Demonstrate ongoing learning

This domain reflects the pharmacist’s appreciation of the professional code of

conduct. It will evaluate their ability to work independently within the code and
the quality of their professional judgement. The detailed competencies are
described below.

2. Dispensing medicines

2.1 Manage the dispensing process

The dispensing process includes the supply of prescription and over the counter
medicines. This is a core activity and the detailed competencies are listed
below and are currently described according to 9 aspects of dispensing.

The emphasis is on the pharmacist’s ability to avoid problems, identify problems

and then resolve them through effective intervention. When entering practice,
the pharmacist must have a clear sense of personal professional responsibility
regarding the management of dispensing in their pharmacy.

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 3. Promote and contribute to optimal use of medicines

3.1 Communicate effectively

3.2 Provide clinical and pharmaceutical services
3.3 Provide medicines and health information and education

The advisory role of the pharmacist has undergone the most change in the last
25 years. The development of Pharmaceutical care in which pharmacists take
responsibility for the outcomes of the medicines they supply has revolutionised
the profession. Along with this comes the need for pharmacists to be well
informed, skilled medication experts and effective communicators.
Most schools of pharmacy recognise in their teaching this but it is only during
the internship that they practice this for real.

4. Manage work issues and relationships

4.1 Manage work

4.2 Manage problems
4.3 Communicate effectively in the workplace
4.4 Work effectively with others

The effectiveness of a Pharmacy depends upon the pharmacist’s ability to be an

effective team player and / or manager. Furthermore, the pharmacist is often in
charge of a community pharmacy or sub-section of a hospital pharmacy
department. Their management competence in the work place will have a
significant impact on their competence as a provider of pharmaceutical care.

3. Performance Criteria:
For each of the 12 competencies there are performance criteria and guidance on
how these can be measured. In total there are 66 performance criteria.
Figure 1 Illustration of a Domain, Competence and Performance criteria

Domain 1. Professional and Ethical practice

Evidence guide (assessing the
Competence Performance criteria
performance)
1. Can explain and apply Federal laws Use direct questioning and the
1.3 Fulfils their and GAHS regulations & guidelines pharmacist should record problems
legal and relating to the practice of pharmacy that arise in their portfolio
regulatory
obligations as 2. Can describe and demonstrate the
a Pharmacist control of narcotic and other controlled Dispenses and records controlled
and employer drugs in accordance with Federal and items
GAHS laws and regulations
3. Can describe and demonstrate the
Can describe the process for
various laws and regulations relating to
employment / dismissal of an
labour & employment, environmental
employee and the safe disposal of
safety, waste disposal, data protection,
pharmaceutical waste.
confidentiality etc

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 1.1 The competence framework

1 Professional and Ethical practice

This domain covers the aspects of the pharmacist’s performance and behaviour that are required for effective Professional
activity. The pharmacist will demonstrate that their personal and professional behaviour is consistent with UAE and GAHS
codes of practice
1.1 Self-management
Develops to a level of self-awareness, responsibility and self-management that is consistent with and effective and
independent Pharmacy practitioner
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Behaves as expected of a professional Consistent with code of conduct and shows empathy
towards patients
02 Manages their time effectively In both time keeping and management of work
03 Recognises their personal and professional limitations Refers where necessary to correct person
04 Remains calm, focussed and effective during stressful or Pharmacist learns from any situation in which they did not
busy periods perform well due to pressure
05 Responds with willingness and flexibility to new situations Is cooperative and positive when assigned new tasks and
and change responsibilities
06 Their decisions are based on clear and logical thinking If challenged, can demonstrate the thought process behind
and evidence a decision
07 Takes responsibility and accepts the outcomes for their Does not try to pass responsibility to others or take credit
decisions for action of others
08 They change their behaviour, when necessary, following Takes steps to avoid repeating mistakes and improves
feedback from the supervisor and others performance following objective feedback

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 1.2 Commitment to Quality
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Works effectively when dispensing or providing Is organised and works at a pace that is appropriate to the
pharmaceutical care or dealing with business colleagues workload. Avoids and prevents mistakes.
02 Checks their own work effectively Accuracy of dispensing calculation results and information
given is always verified
03 Minimises error through effective supervision of self and Can describe their personal routine for checking a
other people dispensed item.
04 Identifies and corrects their own mistakes promptly and Includes knowing the procedure to follow when a
effectively dispensing error has reached a patient
05 Minimises health and safety or medication safety risks Can describe common health and safety and medication
safety problems in their work environment and can propose
and deliver solutions to those problems
06 Actions and advice are based on best evidence Can describe the different types of evidence
07 Can collect good quality data to support decisions Is confident and competent when using reference sources

Fulfils their legal and regulatory obligations as a Pharmacist and employer

Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
08 Can explain and apply Federal laws relating to the Can re-state and apply sections of the laws
practice of pharmacy
09 Can describe and demonstrate the control of narcotic Can apply the principles of controlled item regulation to a
and other controlled medicines in accordance with variety of scenarios
Federal and GAHS laws and regulations
010 Can describe and demonstrate the various laws and Can describe the employment / dismissal of an employee
regulations relating to labour & employment, Can describe and the safe disposal of pharmaceutical
environmental safety, waste disposal, data protection, waste.
confidentiality etc

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 1.3 Demonstrate ongoing learning
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Intern organises and prioritises their own learning needs
Can compare their current abilities with those required of a
licensed pharmacist
02 Develops their own plans and activities to meet their Plans and fulfils Continuing Education requirements
training needs
03 Keeps a clear record of the learning and development
process
04 Can evaluate if the training need has been met and Can match their experiences with the learning objectives
identifies further needs

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 2 Dispense medicines
2.1 Manage the dispensing process
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Can check if a prescription is valid (including controlled Can restate and apply the legal requirements for a prescription
prescriptions) and reliably identifies problems in real and sample prescriptions
02 Can check if the prescription is safe and appropriate Can demonstrate this in a very wide range of situations.
Appropriateness is both clinical, legal and administrative;
Can identify if the medicine is appropriate for the patient’s age,
condition and other medications in a wide range of common
scenarios?
Is the medicine in the hospital’s formulary
Is the prescription compatible with the patient’s insurance
policy?
What to do if the patient cannot afford the prescription
03 Can resolve identified problems Identifies the correct action to take when facing a potential or
actual fraudulent prescription
Contacts a prescriber with confidence and with a clear
recommendation regarding prescribing errors and when seeking
clarification
04 Performs pharmaceutical calculations accurately Calculation skills must be demonstrated for the following:
Quantity to supply
Formulations for creams, suspensions IV infusions etc,
especially dilutions
Dose adjustments e.g. in pediatrics and renal failure
IV Loading doses and steady state calculations if given the
half life and volume of distribution
Calculations for preparing parenteral and enteral infusions &
devices

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 2.1 Manage the dispensing process ... continued
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
05 Issues the prescription to the patient or carer with appropriate Checks if the patient has had the medicine before
advice Checks if the dose is the same as expected
Can demonstrate any new medicines including delivery devices
Can identify and deliver the appropriate advice for the more
common medicines without reference to texts
Can apply the information found in package inserts
If the patient is not collecting the medicine, verifies the identity
of the person collecting
06 Responds appropriately to requests to supply prescription items An restate and apply the regulations regarding the supply of
without a prescription medicine without a prescription and can recommend an OTC
alternative where one exists
07 Keeps the necessary records Can demonstrate the filing of prescriptions, the record keeping
required for controlled items (see above) and the stock control
records that must be maintained
08 Can check prescriptions dispensed by other people Can reliably identify errors in the dispensing of others using both
real samples and test examples
09 Ensures that stock is managed correctly Can describe and demonstrate;
the receiving of a stock delivery
rotation of stock according to First In First Out
expiry date monitoring
identification of stock with special storage requirements
refrigerator temperature monitoring
Knows what to do if the refrigerator malfunctions
Knows which stock items MUST NOT be frozen

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 3 Promote and contribute to optimal use of medicines
3.1 Communicate effectively
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Communicates effectively in Arabic and English Can understand the patient and provide advice to patients
in English and Arabic
02 Can get the necessary information by careful questioning Makes good use of open and closed questions to get a
of a person medical or drug history
Can describe the minimum data required before giving safe
advice
03 Listens effectively to the whole message Uses verbal and non-verbal cues to demonstrate effective
listening
04 Understands and respects confidentiality Can restate and apply the Professional code of conduct
05 Acts appropriately in response to needs of others Can demonstrate when to refer a patient to their physician
as well as being able to provide reassurance
Tests the patient understanding and encourages them to
ask questions
06 Can inspire confidence in others Always provides appropriate advice in a calm and
professional manner
07 Uses body language appropriately Is aware of the impression they are making on others

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 3.2 Provide clinical and pharmaceutical services
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Is very familiar with the trade / generic names of common From memory, accurately identifies the active ingredients
medicines of the top 250 drugs dispensed in the UAE
02 Can identify the most likely indications for a prescription Can do this for any prescription presented
03 Can describe the common side-effects for the most Needs to be able to list these for the most common drug
common drugs groups e.g
Antibiotics
NSAIDs
Antihypertensive
Antidiabetic
Antihistamines / decongestants
Other cardiovascular
04 Can produce clear, evidence based answers in response
to clinical & pharmaceutical questions and problems
05 Actively provides information and advice to healthcare Must be able to demonstrate all the commonly available
professionals inhaler devices to patients
Can do the same for other common devices
06 Can evaluate the clinical significance of a drug Can describe the clinical impact of a drug interaction and
interaction and provide advice on how to avoid or can give examples of interactions that are expected to
manage the interaction have minor or severe consequences and describe how
these should be monitored
07 Contacts prescribers with confidence and after careful
preparation

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 3.3 Provide medicines and health information and education
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Can provide information and “OTC” advice on the Can describe and deliver clear evidence based advice to
management of minor and common problems in adults patients on common and minor problems including;
and children Cold
Sore throat
Allergy including rhinitis and eczema
Headache
Back pain and other Musculoskeletal problems
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Dyspepsia
Acne
Conjunctivitis
Premenstrual syndrome
Basic first aid
02 Can interview a patient to identify if their condition For each of the above the pharmacist should be able to
needs referral to a physician seek information in order to eliminate serious conditions
03 Can coach patients on the correct inhaler technique
04 Can identify medication related problems and take action Provides advice on side effects and can identify possible
to prevent patient harm medicine related problems due to side-effects, change of
brand or route etc
05 Can obtain a medication history from a patient

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 4 Manage work issues and interpersonal relationships in pharmacy practice
4.1 Manage work
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Performs tasks effectively and professionally The pharmacist does not compromise accuracy for speed,
the assignment is complete and that deadlines are met
02 Follows the work systems and procedures correctly Understands the purpose of policy and procedures and
always seeks to follow the correct procedure
Can prepare an amendment to an existing procedure or
write a new procedure when required
03 Makes good use of available resources Pharmacist makes best use of available colleagues, other
healthcare workers, workspace, equipment, and reference
sources (including electronic references & drug information
centres)

4.2 Manage problems

Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Recognises and describes problems accurately Gathers information before “solving” a problem
Understands importance of identifying strengths and
weaknesses, barriers to a solution and discussing problems
with others
02 Identifies possible solutions and chooses the best solution Is able to describe a range of options and explain why they
based on analysis of the options made their choice
03 Can evaluate the outcome of a solution and learn from Shows evidence that they followed up and can describe
the experience how they might act differently the next time

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

 4.3 Communicate effectively in the workplace
Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Treats all colleagues with respect Should be no evidence of discrimination or racism
02 Handles conflict and potential conflict appropriately This includes taking action to prevent conflict wherever
possible
The pharmacist should record evidence of conflict arising
from complaints, aggressive behaviour and from
disagreements with or amongst colleagues

4.4 Work effectively with others

Performance criteria Evidence guide (assessing the performance)
01 Presents their ideas and opinions clearly when dealing
with colleagues
02 Meet commitments to others within agreed deadlines
03 Assists others when necessary
04 Supervises others in an appropriate manner

References:

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD

  Framework for Assessing Canadian Pharmacists' Competencies at Entry-to-Practice

http://www.napra.org/Content_Files/Files/Framework_for_Assessing_Canadian_Pharmacists_Competenc
ies.pdf

 A Guide to the Management of Controlled Drugs in the Private Sector - HAAD

 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia – Competency standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003

 Pharmacists Code of Conduct - UAE Ministry of Health

Professional Competencies for Pharmacist- HAAD