SHPA builds business acumen

SOCIETY of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) members have voted overwhelmingly for a new, contemporary constitution after a special resolution passed with 90% support last week, with clauses allowing non-pharmacists with appropriate skills to assume director positions.

The new constitution will open the organisation up to a more diverse, skills-based future board of directors, allow for organisational members and expanded voting membership for technicians, while promoting and protecting the strong history of branch activity.

SHPA chief executive Kristin Michaels said the move to allow expert non-pharmacist directors would position SHPA strongly for future growth.

“Ensuring Australian patients benefit from evidence-based clinical expertise, hospital pharmacists are increasing their scope and establishing new and more complex roles, and SHPA has a bold vision for their future as leaders in exceptional medicines management,” Michaels said.

“It’s great to see our growing membership get behind diversity in leadership, which will ultimately ensure SHPA is more agile and adaptive to challenges and opportunities at this exciting time in pharmacy in Australia.”

Michaels said the turnout was more than five times higher than for any other resolution passed in SHPA’s history.

“Thanks to a move to online balloting, we were able to conduct a truly nationwide vote, and one in five eligible members had their say in this important turning point in SHPA’s history.”

“With 90% support across the country – and similar participation rates between all state and territory branches – the process and result is fitting for a truly democratic and nationwide organisation.”

The new SHPA constitution is in immediate effect and new board elections are scheduled to take place at Medicines Management 2017, the 43rd SHPA National Conference – one of Australia’s largest annual pharmacy gatherings – in Sydney, mid-Nov.