Strict rules laid down for pharma sale outlets

K-P law dept finalises amendments to drug rules

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government’s law department has duly vetted the proposed amendments of the health department to the NWFP Drug Sale Rules 1982. The amendments will soon be sent to K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for final approval.

According to an official statement issued by the health ministry on Saturday, the proposed amendments laid down some strict criteria for drug sale outlets, including medical stores, pharmacies and wholesale stores in the province.

It has been held compulsory for  the salesperson of a medical store and pharmacy to be a graduate or diploma holder in pharmacy with a valid licence from the concerned regulatory body whereas the salesperson of a wholesale store must not be less than a pharmacy graduate having a valid licence.

As long as a medical store, pharmacy shop or wholesale store remains open, the presence of a salesperson with the aforesaid prescribed qualification will be a must, it read and added that pharma companies will have to supply medicines only to medical stores, pharmacies and wholesale stores.

It also make it compulsory that registration certificates and licences should be at a visible place at stores, pharmacies and wholesale stores besides a ban on sale of high dose specific medicines by sale outlets without the proper prescriptions of qualified doctors.

Medical stores will have green-coloured signboards with writings in white, pharmacies red-coloured signboards with writings in white whereas wholesale outlets will have blue-coloured signboards with writings in black, the proposed amendments include.

The amendments were proposed following directions issued by Senior Health Minister Shahram Tarakai and are aimed at effectively regulating and monitoring sale and purchase of medicines.

The provincial government has decided to amend the Drug Rules 1982 on cogent reasons as these rules are considered obsolete in nature, it informed and added the rules do not provide explanations of important segments to cope with the present scenario and challenges.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2017.