NEWS UCA publish 2015-17 Strategy


INTERIM REVIEW ON MEDICINES ACCESS


An interim review into plans to give NHS patients quicker access to innovative medicines and medical technology has been published this month. The ‘Innovative Medicines and Medical Technology Review’ will improve the speed at which medical innovations such as precision medicines, digital devices, apps, diagnostics and new therapeutic technologies get to patients and their families


The interim report describes the review’s progress in preparing proposals to improve the current system for developing, evaluating and adopting innovative medical technology for the benefit of patients, the health system and the life sciences industry.


Building on extensive responses from stakeholders the report sets out 5 main propositions which will form the basis of the review’s next phase of engagement. The review intends to publish its final report with more detailed recommendations by April 2016.


The Ulster Chemists’ Association has launched their Strategy for 2015-17 and highlighted the need for a continued focus on driving member engagement and support forward.


In 2011, UCA published its Vision Statement and 3-year strategy for members and the community pharmacy sector which set out a direction of travel to increase the profession’s influence and successfully build important relationships giving the UCA new understandings of how it can work on members’ behalf.


The UCA’s new Strategy for 2015-18 will seek to enhance these new relationships “to ensure pharmacists are valued as an equal and integral partner within the primary care team, working alongside other healthcare professionals to provide the best quality care and support to the public, patients and carers.”


The UCA’s Mission is to “promote and protect our members in community and the wider primary care team in both their professional and commercial lives and to deliver effective leadership.”


To this end we will be reinvigorating


our Associate Membership offering support and representation which will enable us to engage with all pharmacists contributing to the success of the sector.


KEY POINTS


Improved member engagement • UCA Local – We will be enhancing our network of UCA Local meetings encouraging all pharmacists to come along and discuss new developments and take advantage of the CPD offered.


• Website – we will be putting more information and services online. Recruitment of a Representation Pharmacist – to provide dedicated support to the Executive and office in terms of our ability to liaise with all stakeholder groups and develop support services & information.


Improved member support • Education programme – UCA will be enhancing the practical education & training it provides including the launch of a Pharmacy Management & Leadership Programme starting in January.


• Service development – UCA will continue to develop new services which will help our members in terms of time and cost.


• Joint initiatives with pharma to provide evidence base – we will be working with our trade colleagues in a number of ways including projects which will promote the value of community pharmacy but also benefit our members directly.


Representation • Engagement with GPs – UCA recognises the difficulties facing the primary care workforce. It is important that GPs and community pharmacy work together to provide solutions to this workforce crisis. It is a great opportunity to develop a more integrated approach to local healthcare.


• PPRB (Pharmacy Professional & Representative Bodies) – UCA is fully committed to working with other likeminded organisations to help implement the key actions in the Making It Better strategy.


Refresh of the UCA Associates Section:- UCA has always supported non- contractor pharmacists and the strategy will develop this further. With the growth of employed pharmacists and the recognition of their contribution to the sector, the UCA Executive has taken the step of re- launching the Associates Section. UCA will be offering Associate Membership to all non-contractor pharmacists working within primary care in terms of: • practical support, information & representation to enable them to make the best contribution they can to community & primary care pharmacy


We will be communicating to all members and potential associates in due course but any pharmacists interested should contact UCA on support@uca.org.uk.


The first is to “put the patient centre-stage”, which would involve ensuring all patients have the opportunity to become active participants in decision making through better developed system architecture at every stage.


Secondly, the report says that a “radically new” and proactive approach is required to accelerate access to the most promising emerging products. This would include a more transparent decision- making process for identifying and prioritising these products, working with companies at every stage of the pathway on bespoke packages for licensing, evaluation and reimbursement, and optimal use of current flexibilities in the regulatory process.


The report also emphasised the need to ensure that the healthcare system is able to adopt new innovations at a local as well as a national level.


Another recommendation is that the NHS should be incentivised and supported to adopt new products and systems quickly and effectively in order to be an active partner in promoting innovation.


Finally, the interim report said that a new system architecture is required at local and national level to accelerate development of new products.


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