Education and Compliance with Current Standards of Practice of Preparation and Administration of Cytotoxic Drugs (Resolution No. 98-5-02)

May 23, 2002 3:17 pm Topics: Resolutions

Resolution No. 98-5-02
Title: Education and Compliance with Current Standards of Practice of Preparation and Administration of Cytotoxic Drugs

Whereas, boards of pharmacy are responsible for the safe practice of pharmacy as it affects both practitioners and the public; and

Whereas, cytotoxic drugs are prepared by pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and nurses and administered in hospitals and institutions; and

Whereas, recent literature supports the fact that such cytotoxic drugs are not being contained by present engineering controls and techniques and therefore are entering the environment where uptake by healthcare workers has been documented; and

Whereas, the failure to implement and maintain appropriate safeguards for the preparation of cytotoxic drugs in endangering the health and welfare of those healthcare workers, especially those of child bearing age; and

Whereas, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), by law, deems that every person working with hazardous substances has the right to know information about the hazardous effects of such substances;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP support and encourage all boards of pharmacy to promote education and assure compliance with current standards of practice for the preparation and administration of cytotoxic drugs for all institutions.

(Resolution passed at NABP’s 98th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ)