CFI Acts Against Unprofessional Conduct

Council robustly guards the public’s right to quality pharmaceutical services, while upholding the good image of the pharmacy profession, by investigating alleged unprofessional conduct by registered persons and bringing disciplinary processes against those found to be endangering public health and/or bringing into disrepute the good name of the pharmacy profession. Regulation 26 of the Regulations relating to the conduct of inquiries held in terms of Chapter V of the Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974, requires that sanctions issued by a Committee of Formal Inquiry be published by the SAPC periodically.

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is legislatively mandated to protect the public’s right to quality pharmaceutical care and to uphold the good image of the pharmacy profession. To achieve this end, the Committee of Formal Inquiry investigates alleged misconduct by pharmacy professionals and premises owners, and institutes various penalties on those found guilty, ranging from a fine and/or suspension from practice, to complete deregistration.

This issue publishes findings against seven (7) registered persons and pharmacy owners for the period under review, with charges including acting outside of scope of practice, operating a pharmacy without a pharmacist present, allowing unauthorised persons to handle scheduled medicines, failing to register a Responsible Pharmacist, refusing to allow a Council inspector to conduct an inspection, falsifying prescription records, and dispensing scheduled medicines without valid prescriptions. Sanctions imposed ranged from fines of R1,000 to R90,000, cost orders of R12,785.11 in each case, suspensions from the register of pharmacists or pharmacy owners for periods of up to ten (10) years, and in one case removal from the register of Pharmacist’s Assistants.

The full findings, including the specific charges and sanctions imposed against each respondent, are published in the official Council report available via the Office of the Registrar.