Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
Encyclopedia
The Faculty of Pharmacutical Medicine is a Faculty of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK (Royal College of Physicians
London, the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
). The Faculty is a UK-based professional membership organisation with approximately 1,400 members; physicians with a professional interest in the speciality of pharmaceutical medicine
, the science of developing and testing new drugs. The Faculty is a registered charity and ultimately exists to bring about an improvement in health in patients and the general population.
(ABPI).
The rapid evolution of pharmaceutical specialists, and the developing interface between pharmaceutical medicine and other medical disciplines, led to the idea of creating a Faculty within the three Royal Colleges of Physicians, so that criteria could be established that would result in specialist accreditation. Thus, the Faculty was formed on 26 October 1989, led by its first President, Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg.
In April 2002, pharmaceutical medicine
was officially recognised as a medical specialty in the UK and the GMC guidelines on Pharmaceutical Medicine stipulate the professional expectations of pharmaceutical physicians. In 2009 the Faculty formed part of the working party that developed the landmark RCP report Innovating for Health: Patients, Physicians, the Pharmaceutical Industry and the NHS.
Since its formation in 1989 the Faculty's offices have been on the grounds of the RCP London, next to Regent's Park. However, since August 2011 the Faculty has moved to offices on Furnival Street in the City of London. The current President of the Faculty is Dr Richard Tiner.
Most members of the Faculty are involved in the coordination of clinical trials of new medicines, vaccines and medical devices. The majority are employed by pharmaceutical companies, but many act as independent medical consultants or work for regulatory agencies such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) or European Medicines Agency
(EMA).
The Faculty supervises Pharmaceutical Medicine Specialty Training (PMST) as well as running the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine for pharmaceutical physicians and the Diploma and Certificate in Human Pharmacology (DHP and CHP) examinations which have been designed to provide accreditation to all professionals with an interest in exploratory drug development. The Faculty coordinates the continuing professional development (CPD) of its members and is also, as a member of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
, working with the GMC on the framework for revalidation
for pharmaceutical physicians. The Faculty responds to a number of consultations throughout the year, and has recently made submissions to the UK Government’s White Paper 'Liberating the NHS http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/LiberatingtheNHS/index.htm' on reform of the National Health Service in England and Department of Health.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
London, the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
). The Faculty is a UK-based professional membership organisation with approximately 1,400 members; physicians with a professional interest in the speciality of pharmaceutical medicine
Pharmaceutical medicine
Pharmaceutical medicine is the medical scientific discipline concerned with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration, monitoring and medical aspects of marketing of medicines for the benefit of patients and public health...
, the science of developing and testing new drugs. The Faculty is a registered charity and ultimately exists to bring about an improvement in health in patients and the general population.
History
In 1976 the three Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK agreed to grant the first Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine to be gained by examination, and a two year training course for pharmaceutical physicians was started under the guidance of the Joint Advisory Committee on pharmaceutical medicine, with representation from AMAPI (now the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP)), and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical IndustryAssociation of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is the trade association for 150 companies in the UK producing prescription medicines for humans...
(ABPI).
The rapid evolution of pharmaceutical specialists, and the developing interface between pharmaceutical medicine and other medical disciplines, led to the idea of creating a Faculty within the three Royal Colleges of Physicians, so that criteria could be established that would result in specialist accreditation. Thus, the Faculty was formed on 26 October 1989, led by its first President, Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg.
In April 2002, pharmaceutical medicine
Pharmaceutical medicine
Pharmaceutical medicine is the medical scientific discipline concerned with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration, monitoring and medical aspects of marketing of medicines for the benefit of patients and public health...
was officially recognised as a medical specialty in the UK and the GMC guidelines on Pharmaceutical Medicine stipulate the professional expectations of pharmaceutical physicians. In 2009 the Faculty formed part of the working party that developed the landmark RCP report Innovating for Health: Patients, Physicians, the Pharmaceutical Industry and the NHS.
Since its formation in 1989 the Faculty's offices have been on the grounds of the RCP London, next to Regent's Park. However, since August 2011 the Faculty has moved to offices on Furnival Street in the City of London. The current President of the Faculty is Dr Richard Tiner.
Membership
The 1,400 members of the Faculty are registered medical practitioners. There are four main categories of membership: Affiliate, Associate (Training), Member (MFPM) and Fellow (FFPM). Approximately 450 members (of all grades) are based outside the UK (approximately 30% of the total).Most members of the Faculty are involved in the coordination of clinical trials of new medicines, vaccines and medical devices. The majority are employed by pharmaceutical companies, but many act as independent medical consultants or work for regulatory agencies such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the UK government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe....
(MHRA) or European Medicines Agency
European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency is a European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. From 1995 to 2004, the European Medicines Agency was known as European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.Roughly parallel to the U.S...
(EMA).
Current work
The Faculty carries out a number of activities to maintain the standards of practice of pharmaceutical physicians so that their work is always in the best interests of the public and patients.The Faculty supervises Pharmaceutical Medicine Specialty Training (PMST) as well as running the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine for pharmaceutical physicians and the Diploma and Certificate in Human Pharmacology (DHP and CHP) examinations which have been designed to provide accreditation to all professionals with an interest in exploratory drug development. The Faculty coordinates the continuing professional development (CPD) of its members and is also, as a member of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
The Academy’s role is to promote, facilitate and where appropriate co-ordinate the work of the Medical Royal Colleges and their fFaculties for the benefit of patients and healthcare...
, working with the GMC on the framework for revalidation
Revalidation
Revalidation is a mechanism for UK doctors to prove their skills are up-to-date and they remain fit to practise medicine. It is intended to reassure patients, employers and other professionals, and to contribute to improving patient care and safety....
for pharmaceutical physicians. The Faculty responds to a number of consultations throughout the year, and has recently made submissions to the UK Government’s White Paper 'Liberating the NHS http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/LiberatingtheNHS/index.htm' on reform of the National Health Service in England and Department of Health.