Since the 1980s, there have been five pharmacists appointed to the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, with only one representing pharmacists working in hospitals and health systems. Given the significant growth in the scope and complexity of pharmacy services provided in hospitals and health systems, the time has come to give them an additional voice on the Board. Furthermore, despite their numbers and the value that they provide to the practice of pharmacy, the Board currently does not have any members who serve as pharmacy technicians.
 
It is for these reasons that we will be introducing legislation that would amend the Pharmacy Act to add a pharmacy technician and a second acute care institutional pharmacist to the State Board of Pharmacy. The additional acute care institutional pharmacist would provide a critically important voice in the review of complex issues unique to a hospital or health system setting. The addition of a pharmacy technician would better reflect our other health professional boards that have added related professionals and staff representatives and guarantee that these vital professionals are given a voice in this critical forum.
 
These proposed changes were agreed upon in discussions between the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association and the Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation that would provide for a well-reasoned update to our State Board of Pharmacy to better reflect the reality of the practice of pharmacy in Pennsylvania.