Dimapur, September 13 (MExN): The Nagaland Drugs Control Administration, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare has directed all licensees to comply with the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945 and the Pharmacy Act, 1948, within a two-month timeframe.
In an order issued on September 13, the Additional Drugs Controller, Controlling & Licensing Authority, WH Patton informed that earlier on January 30, 2021, a similar directive had been issued for compliance of all licensees. However, due to restrictions and logistic constraints imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the order could not be implemented. As such, it said that an additional two-month time will be given to licensees to ensure compliance.
According to the new directive, licensees have been asked to appoint full time registered pharmacists to operate pharmacies as per Clause (2) of Rule 65 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. Stating that sale or renting of drug license is a violation under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules, it also ordered pharmacies operating on loan license to revert the drugs license to the legal license holder.
The directive also underscored that the prescribed duty of a pharmacist, as per the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules and the Pharmacy Act, is to sell and dispense medicines against prescriptions of allopathic registered medical practitioner only. As such, it emphasized that practice of diagnosis and treatment within the pharmacy by persons other than a registered medical practitioner is illegal and liable for prosecution, and informed all such illegal practices should be immediately stopped.
In the event of failure to comply with the given directives, the drugs license of the defaulters shall be cancelled and prosecuted under appropriate sections of the law, it added.
