Standards Australia has released the updated Australian Standard® AS 85000:2024 Australian Community Pharmacy Standard. The revision sets a new benchmark for quality accreditation in community pharmacies, focusing on patient safety and alignment with future community pharmacy practices.
The development of the updated Standard was a collaborative effort led by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and involving 20 key industry stakeholders. It highlights the importance of working together to advance the sector and benefit pharmacies and patients.
Simon Blacker, Chair of the Guild's Clinical Governance Committee, emphasised the importance of this collaborative process, saying "The new Standard was designed by the profession, for the profession, ensuring it is fit for purpose now and into the future."
The updated Standard was shaped by input from a range of key stakeholder organisations and their collective input ensures that the Standard meets current needs and anticipates future developments in the field.
Participating organisations included:
- Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
- Australian Patients Association
- Australian Pharmacy Council
- Consumer Health Products Australia
- MedAdvisor (Previously GuildLink)
- Medical Software Industry Association
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association
- Pharmaceutical Defence Limited
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
- Pharmacy Banner Groups
- Pharmacy Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority
- Pharmacy Premises Registration Authorities of Australia
- Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia
- Professional Pharmacists Australia
- RSM
- Rural Pharmacists Australia
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- Therapeutic Goods Administration
The updated Standard aligns with the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards, introduced by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in 2021. This alignment ensures that community pharmacies adhere to best practices and deliver safe, high-quality care. It emphasises clinical governance, consumer partnerships, and clinical safety principles, reinforcing its commitment to patient-directed care and continuous improvement.
The AS 85000:2024 Australian Community Pharmacy Standard is now available for purchase from Standards Australia. QCPP-accredited pharmacies can access it from the QCPP Knowledge Hub.
