2014/15 Annual Report
Registrar’s Message
There continues to be a lot happening in pharmacy practice generally, and this has a huge impact on the College. It doesn’t seem to matter how bad the economy is, or what the pressures are on the professions, the number of pharmacies and pharmacy professionals continues to increase.
As we enter the final year of the bridging program, we are not seeing the number of pharmacy technicians that were originally being projected. Even so, there are a significant number currently registered. We have 951 pharmacy technicians now. This makes them the largest single district in the College. In comparison, there are only 218 registrants in District 5.
Four of the 12 Board members are new this year, including the Chair and Vice Chair. In addition, we are aware that all 4 of our government appointees’ terms expire this year. This is significant. Since each Board member brings to the table their own unique perspectives and experiences, the new Board may have a different persona than the old one. I’d like to thank Doug Kipp, Bev Harris, Jeff Slater, Ryan Hoag, Blair Tymchuk and Agnes Fridl Polak for their dedication, hard work and commitment to the public for their years of service on the Board.
We have 951 pharmacy technicians now. This makes them the largest single district in the College.
Our Supreme Court Hearing on the incentives bylaw was heard on May 13, 2014. Chief Justice Hinkson ruled against us, and quashed the bylaw. The Board considered the options available and decided to appeal the decision. We are currently awaiting a date with the Court of Appeals. Our colleagues to the east, the Alberta College of Pharmacists, have a date scheduled in December to defend their bylaw in their Supreme Court too.
Significantly, we launched the new Practice Review Program in January 2015. This was a major initiative of the College and will continue to evolve over the next few years. Full credit for the successful implementation goes to Bob Craigue, Board member and Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee, supported by Ashifa Keshavji, Director of Practice Reviews and Competency.
Sincerely,
Bob Nakagawa Registrar
