Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council (MSPC) is anticipating to register around 17,000 pharmacists this year as compared to 12,000 new registrations last year due to growing compliance levels in community pharmacy. MSPC is close to registering 300 plus registrations every day. Previous records reveal that only 5000 registrations were done in the year 2004 which rose to around 10,000 in the year 2011- 12.

MSPC has till date done 1,57,406 registrations of which 1,44,439 are active. Records reveal that 409 registrations have expired, 2,098 pharmacists have migrated to other states and 1,285 have gone overseas. Approximately 1,30,000 renewals have been done with approximately 12,000 new registrations coupled with 332 cancellations.

An official says, "Due to compulsion of having a pharmacist in each medical store as enforced by Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year, pharmacists are getting jobs at stores which is one of the motivating factors for increase in registrations.

As per provisions of Section 32(2) of the Pharmacy Act- 1948, registration is granted to eligible students by MSPC office. Accordingly applications of students who pass diploma or degree from an institute approved by Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) under Section 12 of the Pharmacy Act are accepted.

An MSPC official explains, "Some of the applicants are also Registered Pharmacists of other states who seek transfer to Maharashtra after fulfilling the requisite rules under the Act. In such cases, letter is sent to the institute for confirming qualification of the concerned applicant. When it is confirmed that the applicant is a Registered Pharmacist of the respective state council, letter is sent to them for seeking No Objection Certificate (NOC) confirming details of the candidate like his name, registration number, qualification on which he is registered, date of birth etc."

Pharmacy Act also empowers MSPC to take action like issuing warning letters to temporarily and permanently canceling registrations against pharmacists for professional misconduct. MSPC Executive Committee has quasi judicial powers to take action against the offending pharmacists as per section 36 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 based on the Executive Committee meeting held twice a year. Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has referred 212 cases of professional misconduct of pharmacists till date to the Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council for appropriate action.     

As per FDA records, around 11 pharmacists have been booked under section 416 for impersonation, 420 for cheating and 199 for violating the affidavit of oath (false statement made in any declaration which is by law receivable as evidence).

The State FDA has come across rampant violation of D&C Act last year also as several chemist shops in the state despite their licenses being cancelled were found to be operating and dispensing drugs without a pharmacist.