Role of pharmacist in Healthcare system

Last Updated on July 16, 2025 by The Health Master

Pharmacist

Registered pharmacist attendance issues:

Registered pharmacist presence in pharmacies or medical stores is mandatory as per rule 65(2) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

But, in most of the cases, pharmacists do not remain present in the medical stores due to one or more reasons.

The following are the most common reasons:

Female pharmacist

1. Most of the female pharmacists who got married cannot attend a full-time job in a pharmacy or medical store due to their social responsibilities. She should resign from the job and take care of her family. But, somehow, she does not resign. If she wants to leave the medical store, the owner convinces her to not resign. She will be paid some amount, even if she will not attend the medical store.

2. Most of the female pharmacists who are pregnant cannot attend pharmacy regularly. She should resign from the job and take a rest or take care of her health. But, somehow, she does not resign. If she wants to leave the medical store, the owner convinces her to not resign. She will be paid some amount, even if she will not attend the medical store.

3. Most of the female pharmacists who have kids aged 0-4 years cannot attend pharmacy regularly. She should resign from the job and take care of her kids. But, somehow, she does not resign. If she wants to leave the medical store, the owner convinces her to not resign. She will be paid some amount, even if she will not attend the medical store. So, by way of convincing or by way of money earning,

Male pharmacist

4. In the same way, young male pharmacists who already have a parent business (other than pharmacy) continue their own parent business. The medical store owner searches here and there for a pharmacist. If the owner found such a pharmacist, the owner would try to convince him to enroll, with the condition that he not attend the pharmacy, but only enroll, for some monthly amount.

5. In the same way, young male pharmacists, who are already working with the pharmaceutical industry in production, QA, QC, RA, marketing, clinical studies, etc., continue their jobs in pharmacy simultaneously without attending pharmacy. The medical store owner searches here and there for a pharmacist. If the owner found such a pharmacist, the owner would try to convince him to enroll, with the condition that he not attend the pharmacy, but only enroll, for some monthly amount.

6. Most old-age pharmacists, who are having health problems, cannot attend full-time jobs in pharmacies due to their health. They should resign from the job and take care of their health. But, somehow, they do not resign. If they want to relieve the medical store, the owner convinces them to not resign. They will be paid some amount, even if they will not attend the medical store.

So, by way of convincing or by way of money earning, they do not resign and continue their job without attending pharmacy.

Change brands with the same content of drugs.

As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder.

Rule 65 (1)

Any drug shall, if compounded or made on the licensee’s premises, be compounded or made by or under the direct and personal supervision of a registered pharmacist.

In the current scenario, the compounding and making of drugs are not in practice. All drugs reach the pharmacy store as finished products. So, this rule is not practically effective.

Rule 65 (2)

The supply, otherwise than by way of wholesale dealing, of any drug supplied on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) shall be effected only by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist.

As per the above rules, the role of the registered pharmacist is prominently described. In the absence of a pharmacist, no Schedule H drug should be sold.

A registered pharmacist has no rights to change the prescribed brand medicines.

Pharmacists should have the right to change the prescribed brand having the same content.

Most registered medical practitioners write prescriptions with brand names.

They are not writing prescriptions by GENERIC NAME of drugs.

So, there is no scope of change in brand with pharmacists.

If the RMP prescribes the medicines by GENERIC name, then the rights of sale of various brands to the patient remain with the pharmacist.

Pharmacists have studied for 2 years for a diploma and 4 years for a degree, in-depth, in the area of medicines.

The knowledge of those 4 years of education is enlightening if there is freedom to sell suitable drugs to patients in need.

So, rule 65 (2)(a) should be introduced.

Pharmacists may change the brand of drugs, if they find it suitable for patients, by considering the fact that the contents of the drugs should be the same as prescribed by a registered medical practitioner.

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