Three pharmacy businesses were found operating without a registered pharmacist present on the premises during opening hours – an act in direct breach of the conditions of pharmacy business authorisations.
The pharmacies were identified during a nationwide pharmacy audit for the 2025-2026 financial year and have issued formal warning letters by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC).
“The presence of a registered pharmacist is a fundamental requirement for the lawful operation of a pharmacy and is essential to ensuring consumer safety and the provision of professional pharmaceutical services,” the FCCC stated.
“Breaches of Pharmacy Business Authorisation conditions are taken seriously and may result in further regulatory action, including revocation of the authorisation pursuant to section 45(3B) of the Pharmacy Profession Act 2011.”
The regulatory authority stated this condition was not an administrative formality, and that it existed to protect patients.
“A registered pharmacist on site is what ensures medicines are dispensed safely, dosages are checked, and patients and consumers receive proper advice on the medication they are buying.
“A pharmacy trading without a pharmacist may expose consumers to potential risks.”
The three pharmacies were among 70 entities inspected during the audit – with 67 of those operating in full compliance with authorisation conditions.
The Fiji Pharmaceutical Society said it supported full compliance with the Pharmacy Profession Act and all applicable regulations.
“Pharmacists are trained to review prescriptions for clinical appropriateness and ensuring medicines are dispensed safely with proper counselling,” Fiji Pharmaceutical Society president Priyanka Prasad told this newspaper. “Every pharmacy should ensure a registered pharmacist is present during operating hours, as required by law.”
While she said the Society was not the statutory regulator to execute any internal disciplinary action, added where appropriate, their role was to promote professional standards, provide education and support members to maintain compliance.
Asked whether there was a shortage of pharmacists, Ms Prasad said “if there were genuinely an insufficient number of registered pharmacists available, this should be considered when licensing new pharmacy businesses”.
“It would be unreasonable to expand the number of licensed pharmacies beyond the capacity of the available pharmacy workforce while still expecting existing legal requirements for pharmacist supervision to be met.
“Any workforce shortages should not be viewed as justification for compromising patient safety or legal compliance.”
Ms Prasad advised patients to ask whether a registered pharmacist was on duty, and they should feel comfortable requesting to speak with the pharmacist if they had questions about their medicines, side effects, and interactions or ongoing treatment.
Further questions sent to the FCCC remain unanswered when this edition went to press.
