State regulators are moving to eliminate a certification requirement to become a licensed pharmacist in the state.
However, the elimination of the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam, which assesses competency in state and federal drug distribution laws, is controversial.
The Michigan Pharmacists Association opposes the wholesale removal of the requirement.
“Pharmacists are far more likely to be brought before the pharmacy board for potential legal violations than any other provider,” MPA Director of Government Affairs Eric Roath said. “Physician cases are usually due to a clinical error. Pharmacy is the highest-regulated field in health care. To say there are no better solutions to ensuring practice competency than to just remove the exam is wrong. The competency assessment is actually effective in verifying.”