The Pharmacy Act 2007 (as amended) (“the Act”) requires each retail pharmacy business to have nominated persons (or, in some cases, legal entities) acting in three specified governance roles. Regulations and rules made under the Act give further detail on the responsibilities associated with these roles. The statutory governance roles are:

• Pharmacy Owner
• Superintendent Pharmacist
• Supervising Pharmacist

In addition to the statutory governance roles, the Act and associated regulations require each pharmacy to have a registered pharmacist at the pharmacy to supervise the sale and supply of medicines. Therefore, all pharmacists working in a retail pharmacy business are considered to have responsibilities in relation to pharmacy governance.

These four roles form the four pillars of pharmacy governance:

• Pharmacy Owner - A person (or corporate body) carrying on a retail pharmacy business who has overall responsibility for ensuring the safe and compliant operation of the business. The owner nominates a superintendent pharmacist and a supervising pharmacist.
• Superintendent Pharmacist - A pharmacist with three or more years of post-registration experience who has overall responsibility for the management and administration of the sale and supply of medicines from the pharmacy. A superintendent pharmacist can act for more than one pharmacy.
• Supervising Pharmacist - A pharmacist with three or more years of post-registration experience who is in whole-time charge and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the pharmacy. A supervising pharmacist can only act for one pharmacy.
• Pharmacist - A pharmacist who is registered with the PSI and governed by the principles and ethical standards of the PSI Code of Conduct (the Code).

Optimum pharmacy governance structures acknowledge the roles of the pharmacy owners, superintendent pharmacists and supervising pharmacists in having a shared responsibility and accountability, operating in tandem and in partnership with PSI as the pharmacy regulator and regulatory structures designed by the Oireachtas to assure quality, safety and best outcomes for patients.

While the four pillars of pharmacy governance are essential, how they are arranged can vary between pharmacies. One person may be the owner, superintendent, and supervising pharmacist, or separate individuals may occupy these roles. An owner may be a pharmacist, partnership, representative, or a corporate body (such as a limited company) and own one or multiple pharmacies. The pharmacist(s), support staff, staff skill mix, and the services provided will also be unique to each pharmacy. Regardless of the specific arrangements, the same key governance principles apply to every pharmacy. Pharmacy governance is effective when all four pillars work together to ensure the patient is at the centre of all decisions.

Further information about pharmacy governance roles can be found in PSI Guidance on their website. This includes further guidance on governance roles and responsibilities. See: PSI Guidance on Pharmacy Governance Roles.