Tag: accreditation

Requirements to open a pharmacy vary from country to country and from province to province.

Like other businesses, relating to health the requirements to open a pharmacy store must be met for the effective running of your pharmacy. 

Requirements to open a pharmacy 

Often time, people are faced with different challenges on the prerequisites to open a pharmacy outlet. there are many things that must be considered before executing such a plan of owning a pharmacy.

The knowledge of the requirements to open a pharmacy will equip you more with the clever approaches to be taken in other to have a seamless establishment process.

In this context, few countries are considered the requirements to open a pharmacy. Is important to consider the following contents below before you venture into a pharmacy or drug store outlet.

• Consult a mentor

Mentorship is very essential in starting up any establishment consider reaching out to some people that have been in the business before asking questions and tapping from their wisdom that have been guiding the pharmacy.

• Pharmacy Business planning

Is no doubt that when you fail to plan you plan to fail, research the nature of the pharmacy store you intend to open, and seek to know the requirements to open a pharmacy as such you learn the don’ts and dos of the pharmacy operation.

In the same vein through pharmacy business planning, you know the nature of the establishment you intend to have. In addition, research on profit aspect and what can make you stand out from others that have been there before you.

Consider your market target, location, or positioning those are essential factors in business planning. In nutshell have an effective business plan, which consists of:

1. Business description
2. Competitive analysis
3. Market strategies
4. Operation and management plans
5. Financial Projections

• Your financial capability

This is where most entrepreneurs get it wrong, they plan regardless of their financial status they start up a pharmacy today and want to see it boom like someone that started twenty years ago.

Let your finances determine the level of your store then create room for growth never forget that nothing is too big or too small to start with.

Consider your operational requirements to open a pharmacy

Considering the type of business structure you desire for your pharmacy, lies on the amount of legal liability you desire and how much you are willing to put on ongoing costs of formation and administration, according to Entrepreneur.

• Licenses

This is a very crucial part since most people desire to have a pharmacy store without being a pharmacist.

So, endeavor to have your licenses available or go in partnership with someone that has in other to keep your pharmacy business fast on track.

Below are some of the licenses that may be required of you before embarking on pharmacy business depending on your country of residence:

1. Pharmacy council of Nigeria accreditation
2. State Board of Pharmacy Permit
3. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Number
4. National Provider Identifier (NPI) Number
5. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Number
6. Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Requirements to Open a Pharmacy for different countries

Different countries, have different rules and laid down principles and qualifications to open a pharmacy business. Let’s see some of the countries what they have in common

Requirements To Open A Pharmacy in Nigeria

Below are the pharmacy registration procedures in Nigeria and steps for approval from the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria ( PCN )

INCORPORATE A COMPANY NAME

Submit them at the nearest c.a.c office

A wholesale outlet must have a pharmacist as a shareholder. A copy of the license of the pharmacist shareholder to incorporate a pharmacy name company

• CONSIDER A CONDUCIVE LOCATION

Find a location that

1. must be at least 30sqm for retail, 50 sqm for wholesale and an office plus a warehouse
2. site must be 200 meters from any nearby registered pharmacy
3. write to PCN on your letter headed paper for location approval after paying the location approval fee of n10k for retail and n20k for wholesale
4. site must not be in a market or a motor park
5. a plaza can have two to three premises

• AFTER LOCATION APPROVAL

For A Pharmacist Owned Business

SUBMIT:

1. Application letter for premises registration
2. C.A.C certificate of incorporation
3. The forms co2 and co7 from CAC
4. Superintendent pharmacist license
5. Resignation letter and acceptance of resignation letter from the place of the last appointment as a Supt pharmacist (or NYSC discharge certificate for a post nysc pharmacist)
6. A letter stating that you have only one full-time pharmacist job
7. Pay inspection and registration fee into PCN account
8. Fill and submit forms b and j from PCN

Then Wait for approval which will take months depending on their workload

For A Non-Pharmacist Owned Business

The above-mentioned requirements are compulsory inclusion of below:

1. Appointment And Acceptance Of Appointment Letters
2. A Letter Promising To Give The  Superintendent Pharmacist A Free Hand
3. A Legal Agreement Between The Superintendent  Pharmacist And Th Managing Director
4. Letter Informing Pcn Of Appointment Of A Supt. Pharmacist

Inspector’s requirements

• Medical Reference Books
• A Pharmacist Office
• An Air conditioner
• Poison Book And Box
• Refrigerator

After this stressful race and the approval comes to rejoice and start selling

If premises was not approved, write an appeal letter stating your case to the PCN registrar

You will also like to read how much does it cost to open a pharmacy

Requirements To Open A Pharmacy in Canada

The pharmaceutical sector is one of the largest industries in Canada, meeting the requirements to open a pharmacy in Canada is worthwhile.

If you intend to start a pharmacy or other types of drug stores in Canada, you are bound to comply with the Drug Good Manufacturing Practices and Establishment Licensing Enforcement Directive. Also, pharmacists must pass the exam organized by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).

Below is the step by step approach to open a pharmacy store in Canada:

Step 1:

Submit an Application for Certificate of Accreditation as a Pharmacy

This must be done at least 45 days prior to the proposed opening date of the new pharmacy and includes:

1. The application for Certificate of Accreditation as a Pharmacy
2. Application fee:

• $1766.19 (incl. HST) if your opening date falls between May 10th and November 9th
• $1236.22 (incl. HST) if your opening date falls between Nov 10th and May 9th
• an additional fee is required if the pharmacy will also operate a Remote Dispensing Location (RDL)

3. The Director of a Corporation Declaration of Good Character for every pharmacist director of the operating corporation
4. A copy of the articles of incorporation for the operating corporation (only required if the corporation has never operated a pharmacy in Canada)
5. Copy of the share certificates issued for the operating corporation (only required if the corporation has never operated a pharmacy in Ontario)
6. A signed copy of the Data License Agreement (“DLA”)
7. A pharmacy floor plan for OCP approval labeled with the following details:

Total square footage of the area to be accredited – if the pharmacy is part of a larger area, clearly delineate the pharmacy portion and identify how the accredited area is kept secure/physically separate from the non-accredited area

• Total square footage of dispensary (area behind the counter)
• Location of required two sinks in the dispensary
• The location of an acoustically private consultation area
• Location of the compounding area

The Application processing time varies and your proposed date of opening is subject to change depending on the board’s decision.

Step 2: Scheduling an Assessment

After the approval of your application, a Community Operations Advisor will contact the Designated Manager of the pharmacy to schedule an assessment prior to the proposed opening date.

The Assessment is done by the appointed advisor who visits your location and checks for all relevancies once a satisfactory assessment of the pharmacy is reached, you hope for the Issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation, which enables a seamless running of your pharmacy.

it will interest you to read HOW TO BECOME A PHARMACIST IN CANADA

How To Start A Pharmacy Store In India

There are many requirements to open a pharmacy, the same applies to India. It is easier to own a pharmacy store in India if you are a pharmacist, in the same vein a non-pharmacist can own one if he is willing to give it a chance.

Like other countries, you must go through a legal process in order to obtain the accreditation to run your pharmacy business effectively. In this article, we summarize how to start a pharmacy store in India.

Firstly, you need to find a location to site your store, which will be 10-20 square meters in size.

To be eligible to own a pharmacy store one should have for non-pharmacist or be

• A registered pharmacist approved by the pharmacy department of India
• Have one year in dealing with drugs
• A person who has passed secondary school leaving certificate (S.L.C) with 4 years of experience in dealing in drugs, specially approved by the department of drug control for the purpose.

Is essential to note that the requirements to open a pharmacy store in India, vary from state to state.

However, below is a suggestive list of some of the requirements to open a pharmacy store in India

Pharmacy License application form in the prescribed format

• Covering Letter with the intent of the application signed with the name and designation of the applicant
• Challan of fee deposited for obtaining drug licenses
• Declaration form in the format prescribed
• Key plan(Blueprint) for the premises
• Site plan (Blueprint) for the premises
• The basis of possession of the premises
• Identity proof and photos of owner/partners of a medical store
• Proof of ownership of the premises, if rented
• A Proof of constitution of the company(Incorporation Certificate / MOA/ AOA / Partnership Deed)
• Affidavit of non-conviction of proprietor/partners/directors under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
• Affidavit of a registered pharmacist or competent person working full time
• Appointment letter of registered pharmacist/competent person, if the employed person.

You will also be required to have the following items listed below before inspection.

• Medical Reference Books
• A Pharmacist Office
• An Air conditioner
• Poison Book And Box
• Refrigerator

These documents ascertain your eligibility for a pharmacy store license. After completing all requirements, the inspector has to visit your office and equally go through the approval of your pharmacy store.

Requirements to open a pharmacy (conclusion)

The different requirements to open a pharmacy vary from country to country and in most cases, any with good financial standing can open a pharmacy store but must have a pharmacist who will be readily available for dispensing, consultation, and other professional duties.

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There are many benefits of accreditation in healthcare system and must be considered important by any healthcare establishment.

Although accreditation comes with many challenges and preparations, it is still worthwhile to deem the program an essential one.

When it comes to the general accreditation of an establishment, either school, hospital, or any health-related establishment, standards that are meant to be reached are kept thereby strengthening the operation of the establishments.

Introduction to the benefits of accreditation in healthcare

The benefits of accreditation in healthcare cannot be over-emphasized and in this article, we are going to be looking at the benefits of accreditation and the impacts it has on the general healthcare system.

It has many advantages to the patients, healthcare staff, the general public, and the accreditation program.

List of best 10 benefits of accreditation in healthcare for 2021

Below is the list of benefits of accreditation in healthcare, however, we are considering 10 from the numerous advantages of accreditation in healthcare.

• Accreditation promotes communication amongst healthcare
• Encourages the adoption of standard facilities
• Decreases length of stay in the healthcare facilities
• Promotes transparency
• Accreditation can decrease risks and liability costs
• Encouragement of continuous improvement in the healthcare
• Improves quality care and safety
• Builds confidence and trust in the system
• Accreditation provides a marketing advantage
• Gives room for identifying gaps, measure results, and inefficiencies

Accreditation promotes communication amongst healthcare

Among the benefits of accreditation in healthcare, the above benefit is very important in the healthcare system owing to the fact that when there is a communication bridge across health care, they tend to operate synergistically in providing healthcare services and sharing common ideas across healthcare.

It’s helpful to know the role each person plays on a team. When people and organizations communicate well, they can share best practices and find opportunities to make care better.

In this vein communication amongst healthcare provides a better edge in policymaking because everyone’s opinion in the system will count.

Encourages the adoption of standard facilities

Accreditation goes a long way in making health care adopts better and standard facilities for a better remark from the accreditation bodies.

This does not only uplift an effective operation of the healthcare, it equally encourages better patients care and management.

Decreases length of stay in the healthcare facility

Lengthy hospital stay is a nightmare to many and also discourages many from visiting the health care facilities.

Through accreditation, this can be reduced because the healthcare system will make them put everything that will lead to bad remarks behind and be their best.

In this pandemic, the lengthy hospital stay is highly discouraged in order to facilitate physical distancing.

Promotes transparency

Transparency is facilitated by accreditation because each healthcare is expected to reach a set standard. Once reach the health care becomes accredited and vice versa.

These standards are open for health care to attain before the accreditation process begins.

Accreditation can decrease risks and liability costs

Accreditation facilitates safer care which brings about reduced risk costs. In 2017, Williams et al. looked at 711 accredited long-term care homes in the United States.

They studied a wide range of ratings including health inspections, staffing, inspection deficiencies, fines, and quality measures. They found that the 711 accredited facilities had a better performance on these measures, indicating that the accredited facilities exposed residents to fewer immediate risks.

Encouragement of continuous improvement in the healthcare

A continuous improvement in health care is to encourage seamlessly. Every health care tends to improve in their services once a regulatory body is watching.

Therefore, they improve continuously to be fit and ready for accreditation at any time.

Improves quality care and safety

This is among the benefits of accreditation in healthcare. It helps determine how your staff approach their jobs.

Every healthcare is focused on giving in the best and this process of accreditation motivates this zeal in the health care system.

The staff would see positive outcomes of a well-run accreditation process, will continue to improve the quality and safety of care together.

Builds confidence and trust in the system

This is an essential factor in the growth of any healthcare, when the patients have confidence that health care will provide the quality services they need, they will be calm to will do exactly as instructed. Confidence and trust are built on the level of accreditation healthcare has.

This will also go also the way in positive remarks and recommendations.

Accreditation provides a marketing advantage

As earlier mentioned, accreditation facilitates recommendation and equally provides a marketing advantage over non-accredited healthcare. Since competition remains among the health care system and other organizations, one of the things that give a health care system edge over others is accreditation.

No health care with a great plan neglects the impact of accreditation on the establishment.

Gives room for identifying gaps and inefficiencies

One of the benefits of accreditation in healthcare is that it creates an ample opportunity for healthcare to identify its flaws and inefficiencies and work towards bridging the gaps of not being up to standard.

Conclusion

The impact of accreditation on the quality of healthcare services is worth the process and time however, accreditation comes with its own challenges.

Also, the truth remains that every healthcare ought to go through the process of accreditation for the benefits of accreditation in healthcare not limited to the ones listed above.

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