July ⢠August 2003 - Ontario College of Pharmacists
July ⢠August 2003 - Ontario College of Pharmacists
July ⢠August 2003 - Ontario College of Pharmacists
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COLUMN<br />
INSPECTORS’ CORNER:<br />
INSPECTORS’ CORNER:<br />
THE INSPECTION PROCESS<br />
Rose Fitzgerald, B.Sc.Phm.<br />
“Inspection is not a game <strong>of</strong> "catch as catch can". Rather, as I noted,<br />
it is a process <strong>of</strong> verification for the purpose <strong>of</strong> creating confidence.<br />
It is not built upon the premise <strong>of</strong> trust. Rather, it is<br />
designed to lead to trust…”<br />
– Hans Blix, United Nations Weapons Inspector, January, <strong>2003</strong><br />
Each year, the <strong>College</strong>’s Pharmacy Practice<br />
Department receives many calls, and<br />
inspectors and staff are also approached<br />
by many pharmacists, all asking questions<br />
about the process and details <strong>of</strong> pharmacy<br />
site visits/inspections.<br />
While past articles have focused on the<br />
details <strong>of</strong> the inspections, this article<br />
provides an overview to provide you with<br />
a greater understanding <strong>of</strong> the inspection<br />
process; starting from the Prior<br />
Notice letter informing the designated<br />
manager <strong>of</strong> an upcoming inspection<br />
through to the possible outcomes <strong>of</strong><br />
that visit. Future articles will discuss<br />
specific aspects <strong>of</strong> the inspection<br />
process such as “action plans”.<br />
There are over 2700 accredited pharmacies<br />
in <strong>Ontario</strong>. Each pharmacy receives a<br />
routine inspection once every three years. The<br />
<strong>College</strong> employs four inspectors and one compliance<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficer who are responsible for all inspections<br />
24<br />
Pharmacy Connection <strong>July</strong> • <strong>August</strong> <strong>2003</strong>