ISLAMABAD: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan at its meeting held in November 2021 had discussed the sale of drugs by pharmacies and chemists. After detailed discussion, it had recommended the following:
- No sale of drugs particularly antimicrobial drugs without prescription by registered medical practitioner.
- Government should devise a strategy in consultation with stake holders to address the issues of insufficient number of registered doctors in remote areas.
- CPD should be introduced to train, appoint practicing pharmacists for limited period to prescribe certain limited number of drugs. For this TORs should be prepared by respective provincial Governments.
- Physical presence of graduate pharmacists at pharmacies should be mandatory. Its implementation will be ensured by area Drug Inspectors.
- Distance of two KMs between pharmacies, medical stores should be observed to implement the concept of population based pharmacy set ups in future.
