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National News
A pathway to a higher vaccine accessibility?
Vaccinations for COVID-19 in Poland may get more accessible than previously expected, after the Polish parliament enacted a new law enabling pharmacists to vaccinate. On the 21st of January 2021, the Act came into force, stating that pharmacists (as well as physiotherapists, school hygienists, and laboratory diagnosticians) will be allowed to directly help within the national COVID-19 vaccination program. Each willing candidate must beforehand complete a free two-step qualification course, consisting of both theory e-learning and practical classes. Training is expected to take place in late February or early March. By the end of the first week of February, over 5 thousand pharmacists around the country had already signed up. As the Chief Apothecary Council states, this number is expected to grow even further in the coming weeks. Alongside the possibility of vaccinating against COVID-19 at designated points (usually clinics and hospitals), the disputable question of them taking place directly in pharmacies has surfaced too. The Ministry of Health claims that many more legislative changes need to be done and that Polish pharmacies are not properly suited for such treatments because they don’t have separate rooms for patients. Pharmacists’ autonomies continue however their fight to develop pharmaceutical care in Poland, and the recently enacted Act about Pharmacist’s Profession gives hope for coming improvements. Michał Wosiak, Local Exchange Officer for PPSA Łódź
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APEF National News
The Portuguese State created a Working Group for the dispensing of hospital medication in proximity. This Group presented a report in November of last year that aimed to dispense these same medicines in alternative scenarios, which included not only Community Pharmacies, but also other places where pharmaceutical intervention is compromised, such as health centers or even through home delivery.
In this way, APEF published a communiqué in order to show solidarity with the statements made by the President of the Pharmaceutical Society, who conveyed her concerns regarding the neglect of pharmaceutical monitoring of patients with therapies which, once involving drugs of a more innovative nature, require more specialised and strict surveillance.
APEF was also present at the National Pharmaceutical Council, which brings together the various personalities and decision-makers in the pharmaceutical sector, contributing to the formulation of an opinion paper that was sent to Portugal’s regulatory agency. Bruno Alves, Director of Policy Department
Unions and federations have been advocating for pharmacists to be able to vaccinate against COVID-19, as they have been trained to vaccinate for other pathologies such as the seasonal flu. A recommendation has been sent by the national health agency (Haute Autorité de Santé), but a legislative measure is still pending. Hopefully, 6th year Pharmacy students will be included. Nina Groult, VP International Affairs, and Chloe Lebbos, VP European Affairs
