Pharmacists reminded to practise ethically
KUCHING: Pharmacists must conduct practices in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and codes set by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Board.
In giving this reminder, Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division director Tan Ann Ling warned that failure to adhere to the stipulated regulations would risk having their A licence revoked or their registration with Malaysian Pharmacy Board terminated.
“However, action will only be taken against unethical pharmacists based on the complaints lodged, or the results of investigation carried out against them,” he said in his opening remark at ‘Sarawak Pharmacy Conference 2019’ in UCSI University Sarawak Campus here yesterday.
Tan said a small group of pharmacists had been found selling medicine from government clinics and pharmacies to other pharmacists within the industry.
Such practice was also condemned by Sarawak Health director Dr Jamilah Hashim, who viewed it as being ‘highly unethical and possibly criminal’.
“I strictly asked all public and private pharmacists to be ethical by adhering to existing laws and regulations stipulated by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Board,” said Dr Jamilah, adding that Sarawak had recorded no such case.
On controlled medicine, Dr Jamilah reminded private pharmacists to prescribe them only to patients with proper prescription slips issued by authorised medical personnel.