The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine's Position on Revalidation

One of the key aims of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine is to set and maintain the highest standards within the specialty for the benefit of the public. Revalidation is one method whereby this can be attained. The Faculty supports revalidation which was introduced in the United Kingdom by the General Medical Council in December 2012 and continues to work to ensure that the underlying process reflects the activities of and is relevant to pharmaceutical physicians.  In collaboration with the GMC, the DH and the other Royal Colleges and Faculties, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine has developed specialty-specific standards for revalidation.

If a doctor is undertaking any form of medical practice which, under UK law, currently requires the practitioner to hold a valid Licence to Practise and / or if the terms and conditions of a doctor's employment require him or her to hold a Licence to Practise then the doctor will be legally or contractually obliged to revalidate.

However, whether or not there is a legal or contractual reason for doing so, the maintenance of a GMC Licence to Practise may be important to a pharmaceutical physician and those for whom he or she works if the demonstration of their medical credibility is a key requirement of role. It is anticipated that many employers for whom pharmaceutical physicians work will require them to hold a Licence to Practise; therefore, maintaining a Licence to Practise may be important to individuals both now and in the future if they change employer.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine supports the need for pharmaceutical physicians to hold a Licence to Practise. The work of pharmaceutical physicians has a major impact on patients. Although many pharmaceutical physicians will be remote from the patient, their work affects the behaviour of clinicians caring for patients in a research setting, primary and / or secondary care. For these reasons the Faculty believes that a Licence to Practise pharmaceutical medicine is indicative of the standards and values that underpin practice today.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine has prepared answers to a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing issues of concern to pharmaceutical physicians which can be accessed via the Faculty website - please click here. If you have any further queries regarding revalidation, please address them to revalidation@fpm.org.uk

The GMC have published a set of generic FAQs relating to revalidation, which can be accessed via the GMC website at: http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation/faq_revalidation.asp Further support can be obtained via the GMC helpline: 0161 923 6277

Updated 8 March 2013