A new service has been announced by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) to support pharmacists throughout their careers.
Launched to tie in with the recent World Pharmacists Day, the PDA announced its new Professional Development service, delivered through an online Member Hub, to brings together practical guidance, structured professional support and international pharmacy resources in one accessible location.
Since its inception, the PDA has provided more than 90,000 episodes of support to members facing professional, workplace, legal and regulatory challenges across every sector of pharmacy. Through representing pharmacists in these often complex situations, the PDA has developed extensive practical insight into the realities of professional practice and the risks pharmacists may encounter. The organisation is now using the lessons learned from those experiences to help pharmacists anticipate and manage similar challenges.
The new Professional Development Support Service gives members access to a growing collection of resources, professional guidance and practical tools informed by real-world cases and support experience. These are designed to support professional practice, help pharmacists manage risk and assist them throughout their career development. They initially bring together three dedicated resource areas:
- Support for newly qualified pharmacists who are starting out in professional practice.
- Support tools and resources for independent prescribers.
- An international resource library featuring materials gathered from leading international experts by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).
The Member Hub has been developed to make it easier for PDA members to locate relevant, practical information when they need it. Resources built on the PDA’s unique experiences as well as its practical partnership with FIP include professional guidance, practical tools and templates, bite-sized CPD, webinars, case studies, learning materials, recorded content, articles and opportunities for reflection. An important feature of the new hub is the PDA’s newly qualified pharmacists programme, which has been developed to support pharmacists as they make the transition from student to practising pharmacist prescriber. From September 2026, many pharmacists registering for the first time have been entering professional practice as independent prescribers (IPs). This creates significant opportunities for the profession, while also bringing increased responsibility, accountability and professional risk. The PDA programme is not intended to replace clinical training or the support provided by employers, designated prescribing practitioners and education providers. Instead, it focuses on developing professional judgement, legal awareness, the management of risk and workplace skills that underpin safe and sustainable practice.
