The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has reminded pharmacy contractors to start working towards creating awareness about safe disposal of inhalers, as the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) comes into effect from Wednesday (September 1).
As per quality criterion under the respiratory domain, all patient-facing pharmacy staff should be trained on the reasons for safe disposal of inhalers and the adverse environmental effects when inhaler devices are disposed of in domestic waste.
The staff needs to talk to all for whom they have dispensed an inhaler between September 1, 2021 to January 31 ,2022, about the benefits of returning inhaler devices to community pharmacy for safe and environmentally friendly disposal.
Contractors are also required to report the number of conversations they have had while completing their PQS declaration.
