A new regulator and other changes for SQPs. What could these mean?
A new regulator and other changes for SQPs. What could these mean?
What are SQPs?
Suitably qualified persons (SQPs) are one of the three groups of people entitled in law to supply veterinary medicines – the other two being vets and pharmacists. SQPs first came into existence in 2005 when veterinary medicines regulation underwent a major overhaul to bring the scattered legislation affecting veterinary medicines together in one place and incorporate European law, in the new Veterinary Medicines Regulations. Up until then, veterinary medicines were classified as POM (Prescription-Only Medicine), P (Pharmacy), PML (Pharmacy and Merchants List) or GSL (General Sales List). Changes to these categories were needed to incorporate the EU requirement for all medicines for food-producing animals to be available only on prescription. This meant that the PML category was no longer appropriate. However there was a desire in the UK for farmers and other professional animal keepers to continue to have access to medicines such as parasiticides, vaccines and supplements from a wide choice of distribution routes – animal health merchants and pharmacists as well as veterinary surgeons.
The solution was to split the POM category in two: POM-V (Prescription-Only Medicine – Veterinarian), which broadly corresponded to the old POM category; and POM-VPS (Prescription-Only Medicine – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person), which included products intended for use in food-producing animals that had previously been on the Pharmacy and Merchants List (PML). At the same time the P category (which was little-used for veterinary medicines) was discontinued and the non-prescription category NFA-VPS (Non-Food Animal – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, SQP) was created. The fourth category became AVM-GSL (Authorised Veterinary Medicine – General Sales List).
Along with the new medicine categories, came a new category of regulated supplier (SQPs), a Code of Practice for SQPs, and the requirement for new regulatory bodies recognised by the VMD to ensure a minimum level of education and training (through the SQP [level 4] qualification), compliance with the Code of Practice and up to date knowledge through CPD. An SQP can qualify in a specific species area (companion animal, farm, equine or avian) or any combination of these, or all these species areas. They can prescribe POM-VPS and supply POM-VPS or NFA-VPS medicines in the category of their qualification. POM-VPS medicines are mainly farm-animal parasiticides while NFA-VPS medicines are mainly companion-animal parasiticides. There are around 7000 registered SQPs. They are employed in pet shops, equine suppliers, agricultural merchants and country stores; around 900 work in veterinary practices.
SQP regulators
The first organisation to apply to be a regulatory body for SQPs was the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA), and it remained alone in this role until 2016 when VetSkill became a regulator, followed in 2020 by Vetpol (which will be providing the SQP qualification through online study). The other new developments are that a new route to becoming an SQP has been created through integration of the SQP qualification in the Veterinary Nursing Diploma offered by VetSkill (a qualifications awarding body as well as an SQP regulator). This would seem to fulfil the wish of the BVA in 2005 when it encouraged the VMD to allow listed veterinary nurses to become recognised as SQPs. Also, AMTRA recently announced that its SQP farm and equine qualification would become a level 5 qualification. A name change for the position has also been mooted, with AMTRA already adopting the phrase “registered animal medicines advisors” in its communications. Whether a formal change to the title is planned is not clear. It will require a change to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, which are in the process of being revised.
Development opportunities for SQPs
What effect will these changes have? Most obviously, there is now a wider choice of routes to the qualification and a choice of regulatory body with which an SQP can register. Integration in the nurse diploma and the ability to qualify through online study are likely to increase the number of people qualifying as SPQs. There is also a need for SQP roles for the newly qualified to fill. What about the role of SQPs in companion-animal veterinary practice? Some of the wording of the Code of Practice suggests that SQPs in veterinary practice were not originally envisaged. Nevertheless the additional training is seen as a good fit with dispensary management and the RCVS PPRS rewards practices with additional points for having an SQP. However, the SQP qualification does not include responsibility for dispensing POM-V medicines. In fact there is no requirement for a dispensing qualification in veterinary practice. Therefore dispensing POM-V medicines, even though this might be delegated to someone else, including an SQP, remains the responsibility of the prescribing vet. Are practices using SQPs to their full potential? Companion-animal SQPs can autonomously supply NFA-VPS parasiticides, but this does not fit well with veterinary practices exclusively offering POM-V parasiticides. Could the knowledge of the SQP in companion-animal practice be better used in devising and implementing parasite management protocols, in educating clients about parasite control and the safer and more effective use of these medicines, and for supplying NFA-VPS or POM-V parasiticides (the latter delegated through practice protocols) more rationally?
Andrea Tarr, Founder and Director, Veterinary Prescriber
You might also like to read How to train as a veterinary pharmacist
References
Dean S. Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005. (2005) Vet Record 157: 603-5.
Editorial. Refining the rules on medicines. (2006) Vet Record 159: 1.
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