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The Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) has called for a nationwide survey and inspection campaign to ensure medical stores and pharmacies operate under qualified and registered pharmacists or other legally recognised professionals.
CAP Founder and Chairman Kaukab Iqbal made the demand in a letter to Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mustafa Kamal.
He urged the federal government, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and provincial health and drug-control authorities to coordinate the campaign.
Kaukab Iqbal said medicine safety is directly linked to consumer protection and public health.
He said patients may receive a proper diagnosis and prescription from a qualified doctor. However, treatment can still be compromised if medicines are dispensed or substituted without appropriate professional supervision.
CAP has proposed a nationwide survey to determine the number of licensed medical stores and pharmacies.
The survey would also establish how many outlets have a qualified and duly registered pharmacist or other legally recognised qualified person.
The association also wants authorities to verify pharmacists’ registration and professional credentials.
According to CAP, simply displaying a certificate or naming a pharmacist who does not actually supervise an outlet should not meet regulatory requirements.
The association has also urged authorities to strengthen prescription safety.
It wants medicines to be dispensed strictly against valid prescriptions and in accordance with applicable laws.
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CAP has called for safeguards against unauthorised medicine substitutions, particularly when unqualified individuals make such decisions.
The association also wants special inspections to identify practices that could expose consumers to medication errors.
These inspections should cover incorrect dosage or strength, expired medicines, poor storage conditions and suspected counterfeit or substandard products.
CAP has proposed that licensed outlets clearly display the name and registration number of the responsible pharmacist or qualified person.
It also wants consumers to have a simple way to verify those credentials.
The association has called for surprise inspections by drug inspectors.
It further urged authorities to take legal action against outlets that violate licensing, dispensing or professional requirements.
Kaukab Iqbal also called for an effective complaint mechanism for medicine-related violations.
Consumers should be able to report wrong medicines supplied against prescriptions, unauthorised substitutions and expired medicines.
They should also be able to report the absence of required qualified staff and suspected counterfeit or substandard medicines.
CAP has urged the government to launch a nationwide awareness campaign on medicine safety.
The campaign should advise consumers to purchase medicines only from properly licensed outlets.
It should also encourage consumers to retain prescriptions and obtain purchase receipts.
The association has further demanded publication of province-wise data on licensed drug-sale outlets.
The data should show whether each outlet meets applicable pharmacist or qualified-person requirements.
“A doctor’s responsibility should not end with writing a prescription. The medicine reaching the patient must also be the correct medicine and should be supplied through a properly regulated pharmaceutical system,” Kaukab Iqbal said.
He said access to safe and correctly dispensed medicines was directly linked to consumer rights and public health.
CAP has requested a coordinated review involving DRAP, the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and provincial health and drug-control authorities.
The association has also offered to support government consultations, public awareness campaigns and other initiatives aimed at improving medicine safety across Pakistan.
[…] CAP Calls for Nationwide Inspection of Medical Stores […]