CODE OF ETHICS FOR PHARMACIST IN INDIA (ACCORDING TO PCI PHARMACIST ARE ALLOWED ONLY TO DISPENSE THE PRESCRIBED MEDICATION OF AN RATIONAL PRESCRIPTION PRESCRIBED BY THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER (MBBS,MS,MD,BDS,MDS,ETC...),NOT TO PRESCRIBE BY HIMSELF )

 Declaration: 

Each applicant, at the time of making an application for registration under the provisions of the Act, shall be provided a copy of the declaration as specified in Appendix I along with copies of Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics and Pharmacist’s oath by the state pharmacy council, who shall submit it duly signed.

*Privileges of persons registered as a pharmacist on the register of State Pharmacy Council: 

 Subject to the conditions and restrictions laid down in these Regulations regarding practice of profession of pharmacy by persons possessing approved pharmacy qualifications, every person whose name is for the time being entered in the register of the state in which he is for the time being residing or carrying on his profession or business of pharmacy shall be entitled to practice as “Registered Pharmacist” and engage in the practice of profession of pharmacy and to recover in due course of law in respect of such practice of pharmacy any expenses, charges or any fee to which he/she is entitled in lieu of his/her discharging duties as defined by the PCI from time to time

*Displaying name of owner and registered pharmacist: 

(a) Name of the owner of pharmacy business shall be displayed at or near the main entrance of each premises in which the business is carried on.

 (b) Name of the registered pharmacist along with his registration number and qualification along with his/her photograph shall be displayed adjacent to the area where dispensing is carried on in the pharmacy. Registered pharmacist shall also comply with a dress code of being dressed formally and wearing clean white overall (coat/apron)with a badge displaying the name and registration number. 

(c) Registered pharmacists shall display as suffix to their names only recognized pharmacy qualification / degrees or such certificates/diplomas and memberships / honors which confer professional knowledge or recognizes any exemplary qualification/achievements. 

* Owner to appoint registered pharmacist:

 (a) The owner of a pharmacy business to which this clause applies shall appoint a registered pharmacist to be responsible for regulations . There must be such an appointment in force at all times; otherwise the owner of the pharmacy business shall be deemed contravening the provisions of section 42 of the Act .

 (b) To be effective the notice of appointment must be accompanied by a notice of acceptance of the appointment signed by the appointed person

 (c) An appointment may be revoked by notice given either by the owner of the pharmacy business or by or on behalf of the appointed person. The appointment shall be automatically revoked if the person appointed ceases to be a registered pharmacist. 

Duties and responsibilities of the registered pharmacist in general: 

*Character of registered pharmacist : 

(a) The prime object of the pharmacy profession is to render service to humanity; reward or financial gain is a subordinate consideration. Who- so-ever chooses his profession, assumes the obligation to conduct himself in accordance with its ideals. A registered pharmacist should be an upright man, instructed in the art of medicines. He shall keep himself pure in character and be diligent in caring for the sick; he should be modest, sober, patient, prompt in discharging his duty without anxiety; conducting himself with propriety in his profession and in all the actions of his life.

 (b) A person having qualification in any other system of pharmacy is not allowed to practice modern system of pharmacy in any form.

 (c) A registered pharmacist shall uphold the dignity and honor of his profession.

 * Renewal of Registration :

For renewal of registration the pharmacist shall attend minimum 2 refresher courses in pharmacy of minimum one day duration each in a span of 5 years organized by any one of the following body. 

(i) Pharmacy Council of India. 

(ii) State Pharmacy Councils. 

(iii) Central Govt./State Govt.

 (iv) Professional bodies recognized by the Council. 

***Dispensing against prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner only : 

Every registered pharmacist shall dispense only those medicines as prescribed by the Registered Medical Practitioner and shall not substitute the prescription.(SUBSTITUTION OF BRAND OF EQUAL COMPOSITION IS ALLOWED,ONLY WITH THE QUALITY CONFORMATION . )

 *Practical training to student pharmacists.

 (a) The owner of the pharmacy shall seek prior approval of the PCI for approval of the pharmacy for the purpose of imparting practical teaching to student of Diploma in Pharmacy. In the absence of approval from the PCI, the student pharmacists shall not be treated to have completed their Diploma in Pharmacy (Part-III) to make them eligible for registration as a pharmacist under the Act. 

(b) The registered pharmacist shall impart practical training to student pharmacists as prescribed from time to time under Education Regulations framed u/s 10 of the Act under intimation to the examining authority. 

(c) While imparting such practical training, the registered pharmacists shall comply with the prescribed norms relating to number of students pharmacists to be trained, nature of practical training, duration of practical etc. as laid down under the Education Regulations from time to time.

 Pharmacy Inspectors to inspect pharmacies. 

(a) The owner/registered pharmacist shall allow and co-operate with the inspectors appointed under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and section 26A of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 by the State Pharmacy Council to inspect premises where drugs are compounded or dispensed.

 (b) Any Inspector may –

 (i) inspect any premises where drugs are compounded or dispensed and submit a written report to the Registrar; 

(ii) enquirer whether a person who is engaged in compounding or dispensing of drugs is a registered pharmacist; 

(iii) investigate any complaint made in writing in respect of any contravention of the Act and report to the Registrar; 

(iv) institute prosecution under the order of the Executive Committee of the State Pharmacy Council; (v) exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of Chapters III, IV and V of the Pharmacy Act or any rules made thereunder.

 

 Maintaining good pharmacy practice:

 * Membership in Association:

For the advancement of his profession, a registered pharmacist shall affiliate with associations and societies of allopathic pharmacy professions and involve actively in the functioning of such bodies. A registered pharmacist shall participate in professional meetings as part of Continuing Pharmacy Education program, organized by reputed professional academic bodies or any other authorized associations/organisations. The compliance of this requirement shall be informed regularly to Pharmacy Council of India or the State Pharmacy Councils as the case may be. 

*  Maintenance of patient records:

 (a) Every registered pharmacist shall maintain the medical / prescription records pertaining to his / her patients for a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of the treatment as laid down by the Pharmacy Council of India in Appendix II.

 (b) If any request is made for medical records either by the patients/authorized attendant or legal authorities involved, the same may be duly acknowledged and documents shall be issued within the period of 72 hours. 

(c) Efforts shall be made to computerize medical/prescription records for quick retrieval.

* Highest Quality Assurance in patient care: 

Every registered pharmacist shall aid in safeguarding the profession against admission to it of those who are deficient in moral character or education. Registered pharmacist shall not employ in connection with his professional practice any attendant who is neither registered nor enlisted under the Pharmacy Act in force and shall not permit such persons to attend, to patients wherever professional discretion or skill is required. 

* Exposure of Unethical Conduct: 

A registered pharmacist should expose, without fear or favor, incompetent or corrupt, dishonest or unethical conduct on the part of members of the profession.

 

* Payment of Professional Services:

 The registered pharmacist, engaged in the practice of pharmacy profession shall give priority to the interests of patients. The personal financial interests of a registered pharmacist shall not conflict with the medical interests of patients. A registered pharmacist shall announce his fees before rendering service and not after. Remuneration received for such services shall be in the form and amount specifically announced to the patient at the time the service is rendered. It is unethical to enter into a contract of "no cure no payment". Registered pharmacist rendering service on behalf of the state shall refrain from anticipating or accepting any consideration.

 Application of other laws not barred:

 The registered pharmacist shall observe the laws of the country in regulating the practice of pharmacy and shall also not assist others to evade such laws. He shall be cooperative in observance and enforcement of sanitary laws and regulations in the interest of public health. A registered pharmacist shall have regard to the provisions of the acts like 

Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954.