New policies announced by APhA House of Delegates

The APhA (American Pharmacists Association) House of Delegates has published the report detailing the polices that were adopted at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition (APhA 2016) in Baltimore, Maryland.

The 2016 Association policies were voted on by more than 300 delegates the represented diverse practice and geographic backgrounds.

New policies were adopted on biologic, biosimilar and interchangeable biologic drug products by the APhA House of Delegates. The APhA recommends programs and policies be developed so patients can afford and have access to biologic products and also that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerate the development of principles and avenues that will appraise the versatility of biologic products. The APhA policy cites the FDA’s Purple Book as a respected reference for the versatility of products and the need for consistent processes for that versatility.

A new policy on point-of-care testing was also adopted by the APhA House of Delegates. This supports laws, guidelines and procedures that will allow point-of-care testing to be provided by pharmacists. The pharmacists will also be able to provide clinical services that are in line with their role in the team-based system of care.