The Ministry of Health is moving to strengthen enforcement within Fiji’s pharmacy sector, with individuals impersonating pharmacists or providing services without proper registration facing possible action.
Principal Pharmacist Inspectorate Reenal Chand said the review of Fiji’s pharmacy laws would address concerns identified in the sector and ensure members of the public received professional services from registered pharmacists.
His comments follow reports of pharmacists being absent from pharmacy counters for long periods while assistants attended to customers.
“It is the right of the public to be served by a registered pharmacist when they go out to a community pharmacy or retail pharmacy,” Mr Chand said.
He said while current laws provided the necessary provisions, stronger enforcement was needed to ensure compliance.
“From the recent reporting, such things are happening, so we wish to discourage those kinds of behaviours through better enforcement.”
Mr Chand said pharmacies must display key documents, including the pharmacist’s registration status, pharmacy ownership licence and approval of the premises.
He said the ministry had increased monitoring through regular inspections to ensure pharmacies met legal requirements.
Members of the public were encouraged to confirm that they were being served by registered pharmacists and report suspected breaches to the Pharmacy Profession Board or the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.
