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Pharmacists and advocates press board to retrain inspectors and address patient access after distributor injunctions
Summary
Public speakers asked the board to organize inspector retraining on compounding and to address prescription access problems tied to distributor injunctions; board staff said inspectors receive ongoing sterile-compounding training and enforcement and compounding committee will continue monitoring access issues.
Pharmacists and patient advocates asked the California State Board of Pharmacy at the public-comment portion of the meeting to place two topics on a future agenda: (1) retraining of inspectors on compounding standards, and (2) further work to address patient access problems arising from injunctive relief provisions in the nationwide settlement with major drug distributors.
Keith Yoshizuka of the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists requested that the board consider a retraining program for inspectors, noting turnover in inspection staff and recent changes to compounding standards. Yoshizuka offered a potential training venue and faculty and said distance-learning options could be used to reach new inspectors.
Monty Goddard, a civil engineer and patient advocate, asked the board to do more to help pharmacies and prescribers address shortages and access problems created by distributors’ injunctions. Goddard said the board’s enforcement and compounding committee had previously discussed the public-health consequences and urged collaboration with the Medical Board of California and other stakeholders to produce educational materials and outreach. He requested staff follow-up on four action items previously discussed by the committee, including cross-agency coordination and outreach to the department of consumer affairs director.
Board members and staff responded that the enforcement and compounding committee is monitoring the issue and that board inspectors receive ongoing training that includes sterile-compounding education; staff said norming and case review occur and the committee will provide updates. The board did not adopt an immediate new agenda item during the meeting but told speakers the enforcement and compounding committee would continue to track the concerns.
