Who is held accountable before the Board of Pharmacy if a pharmacy technician makes a mistake?

The pharmacist responsible for supervising the pharmacy technician is held accountable before the Board of Pharmacy if a mistake is made. This accountability stems from the fact that licensed pharmacists carry the primary responsibility for the activities conducted within the pharmacy, including those performed by pharmacy technicians. The supervising pharmacist is expected to ensure that the work performed by technicians meets the standard of care and regulatory requirements.

In practice, the pharmacist oversees the pharmacy operations, providing guidance and training to technicians, which is vital for preventing errors. If a technician makes an error, the Board of Pharmacy typically views the pharmacist as responsible for the overall management of the pharmacy's operations, including the effectiveness of the training and supervision provided to support staff. This reinforces the importance of pharmacists maintaining high standards and being proactive in their oversight roles.

Moreover, while other parties, such as the technician themselves and the pharmacy owner, may have roles in a pharmacy's conduct, the supervising pharmacist is directly implicated in assuring compliance with pharmacy laws and regulations. Therefore, accountability ultimately resides with the pharmacist in connection with the oversight of pharmacy technicians' activities.