REGULATION IN TRANSITION: Update from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
In a time of rapid change across healthcare, the role of pharmacy is expanding and so too must the regulation that supports it.
At the Pharmaceutical Society NI (the Society), our focus is on ensuring that our regulatory framework remains relevant, proportionate and trusted by both the public and the profession.
Pharmacy in Northern Ireland is evolving. Pharmacists are delivering more clinical services, working across multidisciplinary teams and using digital platforms to reach patients in new ways. These developments bring opportunities, but also require clarity in standards, consistency in expectations and confidence in professional accountability.
The Society is the statutory regulator for pharmacists and pharmacy premises in Northern Ireland. We work closely with the Pharmacy Forum NI, which provides professional leadership and advocacy, but our responsibilities are distinct. The Society’s core role is to safeguard the public through effective regulation and to support excellence in pharmaceutical care and professional practice.
Over the coming months, we will aim to publish a refreshed Code for Pharmacists. This will be
An update from Canice Ward, Chief Executive of the
Pharmaceutical Society NI
the first update in nearly a decade and reflects the need for a modern, practical framework that supports professional judgement and safe, person-centred care. The revised Code will take account of feedback from our 2023 consultation and views from our expert advisory group, which included patient representatives. This Code will serve as a bridge between current practice and future legislative developments.
We are also working alongside the General Pharmaceutical Council as part of the Rebalancing Medicines Legislation and Pharmacy Regulation Programme. This collaboration is focused on updating the regulatory framework for Chief Pharmacists, Responsible Pharmacists and Superintendent Pharmacists. Legislative changes have granted the Society new powers to define responsibilities and set professional standards for these roles. These standards will clarify expectations for leadership and accountability in increasingly complex pharmacy settings.
New guidance will also address the provision of pharmacy services at a distance, including prescription collection and delivery. As these models grow, it is essential that patient safety and professional accountability remain central.
Crucially, we are updating our Pharmacist Prescribing Guidance to reflect the significant shift in practice.
From summer 2026, those joining our Register after successful completion of the Foundation Year training programme will be eligible to join as Independent Prescribers.
This change will see around 200 new prescribers entering the profession annually. Our revised guidance will ensure clarity on prescribing responsibilities, competencies, and compliance within Northern Ireland’s legal framework.
We will continue to keep pharmacists, stakeholders, and the public informed and engaged in our regulatory work through regular updates in Pharmacy in Focus and across our wider communications.
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