Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to Hire Additional Pharmacists Soon

Board to Hire Additional Pharmacists Soon
During the 2013 Legislative Session, the Board was granted
a $210,000 increase in its appropriation for the purpose of
hiring additional staff. Note that there was no need to request
for fee increases. The number of licenses issued by the Board
has increased at a greater than expected rate, so there will be
sufficient new revenue to offset the increase in spending. The
Board is awaiting final approval to create two new positions.
♦ Deputy director will be classified as a pharmacist senior,
a classification that is at the same pay grade as the pharmacy
surveyor classification, but which has different
class specifications. The deputy director will report to the
executive director and will be “second-in-command” when
it comes to the Board’s operations. The deputy will also
focus on certain aspects of the complaint and disciplinary processes
and will be assigned to work on some of
the many policy issues that currently confront the Board.
Additional education or experience working closely with
pharmacy- and drug-related laws, rules, or policy will be
preferred for this position.
♦ Pharmacy surveyor will be classified as a pharmacy surveyor.
The individual filling this position will join with the
existing pharmacy surveyors to inspect facilities; review
inspection reports submitted by out-of-state facilities that
are licensed by the Board; investigate complaints; provide
consultation to licensees, registrants, and the public; and
participate in the review of variances and policies, etc.

Creation of these positions is necessary because of the
Board’s increased workload. The number of licenses and
registrations issued by the Board has increased substantially
in recent years. Also, in response to the fungal meningitis
outbreak linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy,
the legislature enacted statutes that will require much closer
scrutiny of applications for out-of-state pharmacies, drug
manufacturers, drug wholesalers, and medical gas distributors.
The Board and its staff have also been asked to work on
a variety of policy issues including synthetic designer drugs,
prescription drug abuse, regulation of methadone treatment
facilities, pharmaceutical waste, the “gray market” for pharmaceuticals, a
 complete revision of the Pharmacy Practice
Act, and better regulation of compounding, drug shortages,
and more.
Pharmacists who are interested in these positions should
regularly check the Board’s Web site for additional announcements.
The plan is to have these positions filled by late summer or early fall.

quoted from Minnesota Board of Pharmacy July 2013 Newsletter