Fake pharmacists still operate with impunity

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Nov 26: When minor illnesses strike, most people in the State are known to scramble to the drugstore nearby — to first consult the friendly neighborhood pharmacist for their medicil needs. But beware, the pharmacist could be fake and the drugs he prescribes could do more harm than good.

According to figures furnished by the Assam Pharmacy Council (APC), of the fake 2,889 pharmacists registered in the State between 2001 to 2010, registration of only 754 pharmacists have been cancelled by the APC till date. In 2015, a case (no. 483/2015) was registered with the Dispur police station against these pharmacists, stated the figures.

Of the 754 pharmacists against whom cases were registered by the APC, three of them moved the Gauhati High Court, following which the bench issued a stay order on the cancellation of registration of pharmacists.

Fake pharmacists in the State do not have diplomas/degrees required to become a pharmacist. Many pharmacists have passed only HSLC or HS exams.  

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has maintained that registration was the sole responsibility of the State pharmacy council and it has to strictly follow the provisions of the Pharmacy Act.

As per Section 42 of Pharmacy Act, no person other than a registered pharmacist can compound, prepare, mix or dispense any medicine on the prescription of a medical practitioner, and whosoever contravenes the provisions will be liable to punishment with imprisonment for a term which might extend to six months, or a fine not exceeding Rs 1,000, or both.

APC registrar BC Das said, “We have taken strong steps to win the case filed against cancellation of registration of fake pharmacists in the State. Some of the fake pharmacists have surrendered before us and few more will do so in the coming days.”