Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia Pty Ltd (PCCA) supports pharmacists to maintain and enhance their profession’s skills at making up preparations tailored to individuals’ needs.
PCCA provides training and education to member pharmacies and is also a TGA licensed supplier of ingredients for extemporaneous compounding to pharmacists who prepare medicines for patients for whom the available commercial products are unsuitable. The Therapeutic Goods Act specifically allows pharmacists to prepare medicines for individual patients when a suitable commercially manufactured product is unavailable.
Compounding
Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customised medications for patients. Its practice dates back to the origins of pharmacy.
There are several reasons why pharmacists compound prescription medications.
These may include:
· Patient medication adherence problems.
· Allergy to preservatives or dyes
· Need for non-standard doses or concentrations
· Need for a different dosage form such as a liquid or topical
· Palatability
· Unavailable or discontinued medicine
Regulation
The Therapeutics Goods Regulations specifically exempts compounded products from having to be approved as they are made on an individual basis for specific patients who would otherwise have to use less suitable medicines, import the product (at great expense) or just be denied the medicine that their doctor recommends.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has published specific Professional Practice Standards for Compounding with which pharmacists are required to comply. The Pharmacy Boards of each state are responsible for regulating compounding since this has always been part of professional pharmacy practice.
PCCA provides continuing education on compounding and quality standards and is a participant in the development of compounding standards with regulatory and professional organisations in Australia.
Contact details for PCCA are as follows:
1300 722 269 or info@pccaust.com.au
Visit our website www.pccarx.com.au
