The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the updated standards follow “significant changes in legislation, education and practice” in Northern Ireland.
Newly qualified pharmacists will become independent prescribers from September 2026.
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The PSNI says this is a “fundamental development” for the scope and professional responsibilities of pharmacists. The draft standards will replace the 2013 version.
The standards are designed to “protect patients and the public” and will “support professional judgement across diverse practice settings”.
They will also “promote safe, accountable and evidence-based prescribing” as well as “reflect modern models of care, including remote and digital prescribing”.
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Pharmacists and trainees can give feedback on the consultation along with employers, healthcare professionals, education providers and patients.
The 12-week consultation is open until June 11.
It comes as the PSNI met 14 out of 18 standards in its 2024/25 annual performance review last week.
Last month, it launched its “corporate strategy” for 2025-2030 to help the body “transform and modernise” and keep up with the changing landscape of the pharmacy sector.
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It follows the new code of conduct, ethics and performance that was published by the Northern Irish pharmacy regulator in January.
And in August, it launched a consultation to define the responsibilities of chief pharmacists and set conduct and performance standards.
