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HoC Answers - 11.01.10
CHRE's consultation on GPC standards
Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat, Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence is consulting on future General Pharmaceutical Council standards; and what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the existing standards.
Mr. Mike O'Brien (Minister of State for Health Services): As the General Pharmaceutical Council will be independent of Government, it was not thought it appropriate for the Department to consult on these standards on their behalf.
The General Pharmaceutical Council will be a new body with new powers so there are no comparable statutory standards in existence for pharmacy. However, where there are existing standards that cover the same geographical remit as the new regulator, that is Great Britain, they have been used as a starting point for development. In particular, the most recent Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain education standards have been incorporated where possible.
Posted 13 January 2010