PREAMBLE
The primary obligation of a pharmacy is the service it can render to the public in safeguarding the manufacture, control, preparation, compounding and dispensing of drugs and medical supplies.
The practice of pharmacy requires knowledge, skill and integrity: therefore the state laws should restrict the practice of pharmacy to persons with special training and qualifications and license to them privileges which are denied to others. Accordingly, the pharmacist recognises his responsibility to the state and to the community for their well-being, and fulfils his professional obligations honourably.
I OBLIGATIONS TO PHARMACY
- A high standard of professional conduct in pharmacy and an efficient pharmaceutical service for the general public is necessary in the public interest. Every pharmacist should play his part in providing such a service or impart confidence in the pharmaceutical profession as a whole.
- Any obstruction of the pharmacist in personal control of a pharmacy by the owner of the pharmacy which results in failure to maintain a proper standard of conduct within that pharmacy will be regarded as failure on the part of the owner to observe a proper standard.
- A pharmacist engaged in any aspect of pharmaceutical practice, including pharmaceutical industry, should give priority to professional standards over commercial or other considerations.
- Employment as the sole pharmacist should not be offered to or accepted by a pharmacist who is not able or required by his employer to perform the full duties of a pharmacist in charge of that pharmacy.
- The appearance of the premises should reflect the professional character of a pharmacy. Signs, notices, descriptions, wording on business stationery and related indications, should be restrained in size, design and terms. Descriptions which are either inaccurate or draw on an invidious distinction between pharmacists or pharmacies should not be used.
- The dispensing of medicinal products or the professional services of a pharmacist should not be advertised directly or indirectly, except that:
a) the term “dispensing chemist”, “chemist and druggist”, “pharmacy”, “pharmacist” or “pharmaceutical chemist” may be used simply as a description on the facia or other appropriate position in a pharmacy, on labels, or on business stationery, and a telephone or other directories:
b) a discreet announcement in the local press may be made of the opening of a new pharmacy or the transfer of an existing pharmacy to a new address.
- Methods of sales promotion designed to encourage the general public to purchase or obtain more of a medicinal product than they may reasonably require should not be used.
- Display material for the sale to the public of medicinal products or medicinal appliances which is undignified in style should not be used.
- A pharmacist should not allow others to use his name, qualifications, address or photograph in connection with the distribution to the public of any medicinal product.
- Advertising or canvassing to promote dispensing or any other professional service, or the sale by retail of medicinal products, other than veterinary drugs, should not be undertaken whether by personal call, the distribution of printed matter, or postal communication.
II. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC
- When premises are registered or licensed under the drug legislation in force in the country and opened as a pharmacy, a reasonably comprehensive pharmaceutical service should be provided. A pharmacist should not refuse supplies in an emergency.
- The conditions in a pharmacy should be such as to minimise risk of error or contamination of the preparation, dispensing and supply of medicinal products.
- A pharmacist should ensure that the patient is made aware of any directions or cautions particular to the medication prescribed.
- A pharmacist should endeavour to supply in a reasonable period such medicinal products as requested by the prescription of a health care professional.
- A pharmacist shall respect the confidentiality of all data collected, from whatever source, for the maintenance of patient medication records, also information related to patients and their families given during the course of a professional consultation.
- If a medicinal product or medical appliance or preparation is advertised or presented to the general public by means of display material of a kind mentioned in paragraph 8, then such article or preparation should not be promoted in a pharmacy.
- Notices given by the Government or the appropriate statutory authority that articles or preparations should be supplied only to or on the prescription of a medical practitioner, dentist, or veterinary surgeon or practitioner, or should not be supplied at all, should be observed.
- A pharmacist should not supply to any member of the public any substance, medicinal product or medical appliance which the pharmacist knows or has reason to believe is intended to be used in a manner which would be detrimental to health (including expired drugs.)
III. THE PHARMACIST AND HIS RELATIONS WITH FELLOW PHARMACISTS
- A pharmacist should at all times be ready to help other pharmacists in providing an efficient pharmaceutical service.
- A pharmacist should continually improve his professional knowledge by attending postgraduate courses at regular intervals and by studying pharmaceutical, medical and other appropriate scientific journals and literature. He should contribute to the scientific development of the profession whenever possible.
- A pharmacist should associate himself with organisations having for their objective the betterment of the pharmaceutical professional and should contribute his share of time, energy and funds to carry on the work of these organisations.
- A pharmacist should seek to attract to his profession, persons of good character and intellectual capacity and should aid in their instruction.
- A pharmacist should keep his reputation in public esteem by continuously giving the kind of professional service that earns its own regard. He should not engage in any activity or transaction that would bring discredit or criticism to himself or to his profession.
- A pharmacist should expose any corrupt or dishonest conduct of any member of his profession which comes to his certain knowledge through those accredited processes provided by the civil laws or the rules and regulations of pharmaceutical organisations, and he should aid in driving the unworthy out of the ceiling.
- A pharmacist should not imitate the label of his competitors or attempt to take any unfair advantage of their professional or commercial success. He should not fill orders that he knows are intended for a competitor. He should adhere to fair practices, meet his obligations promptly, and fulfill his agreements and contracts.
IV. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PROFESSIONS
- The therapeutic efficacy of prescriptions should not be discussed with patients or others in such a manner as to impair confidence in the prescriber.
- A pharmacist who has accepted a prescription for dispensing should dispense the prescription exactly in accordance with the prescriber’s wishes and, in particular, will not (except with the approval of the prescriber or in an emergency) substitute any other product for a specifically named product even if the pharmacist believes that the therapeutic effect and quality of the other product is indentical.
- A pharmacist should not recommend a named medical practioner or medical practice unless so requested by a member of the public seeking medical advice.
- While the closest professional cooperation between pharmacists and prescribers is desirable, there should be no collusion between the two in matters of professional practice. A pharmacist should neither:
a) have a business association with a prescriber in the sense of either of them having a financial interest in the professional work of the other, nor
b) so conduct himself to lead patients or members of the public to believe that there is such an association.