In order to empower the pharmacy inspectors through clearly defining their duties and responsibilities under the Pharmacy Act, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has proposed certain amendments for consideration and review of the Union health ministry.

Since the qualification of pharmacy inspector was not specifically defined in the Pharmacy Act and left to the state governments and state pharmacy councils to decide, the PCI has proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Act, 1948 to incorporate the eligibility of a having a graduate degree in pharmacy for the appointment as a pharmacy inspector among other recommendations.

Said Dr B Suresh, president, PCI, "The proposed amendments are under consideration of the health ministry. Amongst other salient points regarding the eligibility conditions for the appointment of pharmacy inspectors, the proposal which is currently being reviewed by the health ministry also defines the nature of premises which can be inspected besides ensuring the availability of registered pharmacist in the premises by amending Section 26A (2) (a) and (b) of the Pharmacy Act."

PCI has proposed the amendment so that pharmacy inspector is empowered to inspect any premise where drugs are stored, dispensed, supplied or compounded, prepared or otherwise made for its use. As per the recommendation, the inspector should also have the power to verify whether the information about drugs is disseminated by the pharmacist and patient counseling is done for further submission of a written report to the Registrar.

Another amendment suggested relates to enquiring whether a person who is engaged in compounding or dispensing of drugs is a registered pharmacist. The suggested amendment would empower the inspector to enquire whether a person who is engaged in storing, dispensing, supplying, compounding, preparing or otherwise making drugs for its use. This also includes checking for dissemination of information about drugs and doing patient counseling by a registered pharmacist.

As of today only Kerala and Maharashtra have pharmacy inspectors in the country, PCI has been writing to the State Governments for appointment of inspectors u/s 26 A of the Pharmacy Act but has not received satisfactory responses. "We are planning to take it up with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for further intervention in the matter and pursue with the respective state governments for the appointment of inspectors," Dr Suresh concluded.

To ensure the implementation of Section 42 and Chapter III, IV and V of the Pharmacy Act, State Pharmacy Councils are empowered u/s 26 A to appoint inspectors with the previous sanction of the respective State Governments.