FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2013

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health (DOH), on behalf of the Board of Pharmacy, today released the findings of the Florida Board of Pharmacy Compounding Survey Report. The Board of Pharmacy approved an emergency rule on Nov. 20, 2012, making it mandatory for pharmacies to complete a survey on current compounding practices. In addition to the Department’s immediate public health response to the fungal meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated injectable products from the New England Compounding Center, the Florida Board of Pharmacy created a compounding rules committee to review existing regulations to ensure the safety of compounded products in Florida.

The information gathered through the survey will be shared with state and federal policy makers to inform ongoing discussions about safe compounding practice.

“We want to ensure that compounded medications available in Florida are safe,” said Florida Board of Pharmacy Chair Albert Garcia, BPharm, MHL . “The survey results will shed light on opportunities to promote responsible compounding practice.”

Nearly 8,300 survey responses were submitted from the 8,981 permitted pharmacies in Florida for a 92 percent response rate. The survey will remain open as staff continues outreach to achieve 100 percent compliance.

Information from the survey will help prioritize inspections based upon risk associated with the type of compounding practice. The Board will also review the findings to guide future rulemaking and determine appropriate legislative changes are established that will protect patients without creating unduly burdensome regulation.

To review the report, please visit the Department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance website at http://floridaspharmacy.gov/latest-news/florida-board-of-pharmacy-compounding-survey-report/.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.