State drugs control administration (DCA), which has issued several directives vide order January 30, 2020 to all the licensees (pharmacy) for strict compliance within three months, has extended the deadline by another two months.
In a fresh order, additional drugs controller WH Patton reminded the appointment of full-time registered pharmacist to operate pharmacy as required under Rule 65 (2) of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The order directed pharmacy operating on loan license to revert the drugs license to the legal license owner.
Under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules and the Pharmacy Act, the prescribed duty of a pharmacist is to sell and dispense medicines against prescription of allopathic registered medical practitioner only.
Further, the drugs control authority informed that practice of diagnosis and treatment within the pharmacy by person other than a registered medical practitioner was illegal and liable for prosecution.
The authority has, therefore, directed such illegal practices should be immediately stopped. In the event of failure to comply with the directives, the drugs license of the defaulters would be cancelled and prosecuted under appropriate section in the court of law, the order stated.