Kerala State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) has urged the state government to issue an order to the drug control department asking them to release drug licences for retail sales based on the working hours of the pharmacist in the medical stores.

The Council has made this demand following reports by pharmacy inspectors that several pharmacies are working without the presence of registered pharmacists, especially during night hours.

According to B Rajan, president of the Council, after 6 pm most of the pharmacies are working without pharmacists. The qualified pharmacists are working only for eight hours a day. He said the Council has also written to the union government seeking amendment of Drugs & Cosmetics Act in this regard as the Act also demands a full time registered pharmacist in the drug store.

He said the drug control department officials should compulsorily collect declarations from the pharmacists ascertaining their hours of work in the pharmacies at the time of accepting applications. The licences should be issued only based on their hours of work in the medical stores. If pharmacists are not able to work or not available during night hours, such pharmacies should be closed in their absence.

The state human rights commission had earlier issued an order to the health department asking it to take measures to implement Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act 1948 in all government and private hospital pharmacies. It suggested that if violations of Section 42 are found anywhere, the pharmacy inspectors should be empowered to take penal actions including prosecution. KSPC has now wanted the government to facilitate the council for appointing more pharmacy inspectors.