The Company Chemists Association (CCA) has warned that any move to raise the initial education and training standards for pharmacy technician training will affect the careers of thousands of workers and cost the community pharmacy sector up to £150 million per year.
In their response to the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) consultation on proposals to raise the minimum qualification level for pharmacy technicians, the CCA said that while it supports efforts to develop their skills, the new proposals will exacerbate workforce shortages.
The raising of the minimum qualification level for pharmacy technicians from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 to Level 4 will block many of the people currently looking to begin training as healthcare professionals and increase costs for employers and the government.
The CCA said the current Level 3 training meets the needs of core pharmacy technician roles, and any advanced skills can be developed through targeted post-qualification training.
Instead of raising the minimum qualification, the CCA has proposed strengthening Level 3 learning outcomes to ensure robust preparation for core roles.
It pointed out that CCA members employ over 2,700 pharmacy technicians across Great Britain, which is over a third of the total community pharmacy technician workforce.
In addition, our members employ approximately half of all trained dispensing assistants and medicines counter assistants who are undertaking training to become a Level 3 pharmacy technician, it added.
The CCA said the GPhC proposal would increase costs "when pharmacy businesses are already on their knees financially."
It said that training costs could rise by £75–100 million annually, which would force employers to reduce training places.
On top of this, technicians qualified at Level 4 would expect around 12 percent higher pay, adding an estimated £50 million per year in additional costs to community pharmacy employers.
The CCA said there is limited need for Level 4 advanced skills in the core community pharmacy technician role.
It pointed out that as per Department for Education data, nearly a third (30 percent) of pharmacy technician apprentices either fail their end-point assessment or drop out of the course.
A more rigorous course, with little benefit to community pharmacy technician roles, may increase the dropout rate, it added.
The CCA also said the move could trigger a 'brain-drain', with technicians leaving community pharmacy altogether after they have qualified for settings where they can use their advanced skills more fully.
This will reduce the number of pharmacy technicians available to community pharmacy employers.
These changes could also negate the positive impact of the soon-to-be-enacted regulatory changes, that aims to free up pharmacists to deliver more patient-facing care.
As part of the changes, technicians will be given more responsibility over dispensing.
CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said, “There are better ways to raise standards than simply increasing the minimum entry level for pharmacy technicians.
"These proposals make little sense at a time when the sector should be harnessing the benefits of employing pharmacy technicians.
"We must be allowed to raise standards without pulling up the ladder for those looking to start a professional career."
