Compounding Pharmacy

Starting and Opening a Compounding Pharmacy:

Compounding  pharmacies are one of the major reasons that specialty pharmacies are showing such a rapid rate of growth as related to new pharmacy startups and pharmacies being opened. Add in the number of existing pharmacies expanding their operations by adding on compounding pharmacy services and the result is a lucrative return on investment opportunity. Compounding pharmacies basically create customized prescriptions or modify existing medications for patients and animals whose wellness needs cannot be met by the available manufactured forms or dosages of medications. The compounding pharmacy thereby helps the physicians and veterinarians tailor the medications needed in treating their patients to the exact specifications and requirements of the individual.Estimated Numbers of Compounding PharmaciesAccording to The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) there are perhaps 56,000 pharmacies that participate in some sort of pharmacy compounding services. Most are community pharmacies that primarily compound prescription medications for geographically local bases of customers and prescribing physicians. However, the IACP estimates that there around 7,500 compounding pharmacy operations nationally that participate in what are labeled as Advanced Compounding Services. It is important to note that an estimated 3,000 of these compounding pharmacies are involved in the production of what are considered sterile products and medications.Regulation of Compounding PharmaciesCompounding pharmacies are highly regulated and are basically divided into two groupings: Sterile compounding facilities and non-sterile compounding facilities. All compounding facilities must strictly adhere to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) established practice guideline. More specifically, they must adhere to USP chapter <795> for compounding non-sterile medications and USP chapter <797> for the compounding of sterile medications. Additionally, the FDA mandates specific requirements under Section 503(a) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. To complicate the compounding pharmacy requirements even further, Section 503A has been amended by the FDA to include Section 106(a) as mandated by the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act (sometimes referred to simply as the Compounding Quality Act).To make things even more complex in regards to the regulations involved in the operation of a compounding pharmacy are the individual state laws. A good example is the state of Florida. During the Florida 2016 Legislative Session, statute HB 1175 was passed and became a law on April 14, 2016. The new legislation and law centered around the shipping of compounded sterile products into the State of Florida and the requirement of becoming registered as a nonresident pharmacy and being issued a permit for compounding pharmacies not physically located in Florida.The Future of Compounding PharmaciesIt is pretty evident that the future of the compounding pharmacy is bright. As medications are being individualized and tailored to meet a patient's individual needs, the need for compounding pharmacies is expanding at a rapid rate. Doctors, physicians, veterinarians, dentists, and other health care prescribers are depending on the pharmacy industry to help meet their individual patient's needs by delivering exact dosages and helping with medication compliance issues. The delivery of medications in alternative strengths, dosage forms and flavors for infants and geriatric patients alone has led to an unprecedented growth rate of compounding pharmacies being started up and opened in the last ten years. The trend will continue with an estimated 20% increase in the number of compounding pharmacies by 2020. Although the 2012 meningitis outbreak caused by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) caused a tremendous amount of negative media to be centered on the industry, compounding pharmacies now account for more than 3% of all prescription drugs dispensed in the United States.Starting and Opening a Compounding PharmacyOpening and starting up a compounding pharmacy requires both expertise and experience to result in a successful business operation. Similar in many respects to starting up a “traditional” retail pharmacy, there are numerous additional requirements that must be addressed. In addition to the list of steps followed in the planning and execution of a “traditional” pharmacy startup, there are numerous equipment, policies, procedures and operational considerations. While more and more pharmacies are entering the compounding pharmacy market, it is not without its challenges. Let a nationally renowned Pharmacy Consulting firm like Healthcare Consultants help you get the most out of your investment and guide you through the entire process.Healthcare Consultants has helped plan and open more compounding pharmacies nationally than perhaps any other Pharmacy Consulting firm in the industry. HCC has also helped many existing pharmacies expand their market shares via expansion by the addition of compounding pharmacy services. Plus HCC offers the additional advantage of Pharmacy Staffing and Pharmacy Management, being in the business for over 27 years and being recognized as one of the premier Pharmacy Consulting agencies in the nation. With a proven track record and a history of success, HCC can plan and execute a strategy to win in the Compounding Pharmacy arena. Contact us online or call us today at 800-642-1652 to discuss how we can help you.