September 2019

New compounding resources now available

The Pharmacy Council of New South Wales is pleased to announce the launch of its Compounding checklist and Premises and equipment guidance for non-sterile complex  compounding.

The Council has released the new compounding resources to assist pharmacists in compounding safely. The resources, which were finalised after a lengthy and extensive consultation process, provide practical guidance on improving compounding practices and can help ensure risks of harm to patients, the public and pharmacy staff are minimised.

Proprietors considering offering compounding services may also use the new resources in understanding the significant investment outlay required as part of their decision making process.

The Compounding checklist is a self-audit tool for use by pharmacists to ensure their compounding practices are undertaken appropriately in New South Wales pharmacies. It brings together legislation, codes and guidelines and other useful resources into a comprehensive checklist.

The Premises and equipment guidance for non-sterile complex compounding provides guidance which will help ensure there is sufficient space to comfortably and safely work, minimise the risk of cross contamination of compounded preparations prepared, and minimise the risk of unnecessary exposure to hazardous preparations.

You can access both resources on the Council’s website.

Please also refer to the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s Guidelines on compounded medicines, which is available on the Board’s website. 

Compounded medicines are prepared for an individual patient only when an appropriate commercial product is unavailable or unsuitable. A close formulation of an available suitable commercial product, that produces the same therapeutic outcome of the commercial product, should not be compounded.

For further information, visit www.pharmacycouncil.nsw.gov.au or contact mail@pharmacycouncil.nsw.gov.au

If you would like to provide feedback or make a complaint about our administrative and business processes, email us at mail@pharmacycouncil.nsw.gov.au