ISLAMABAD: Pharmacists’ association has taken exception to a warning by country’s top medical regulator against unauthorised clinical practice, termed its claims misleading and legally flawed.
In a formal communication to the Ministry of National Health Services and newspaper advertisements, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) raised what it described as a matter of “grave national concern”, urging urgent intervention to curb unauthorised clinical practice by allied health professionals.
The council said it had taken serious notice of reported instances where allied professionals were prescribing medicines, making independent diagnoses and even undertaking medical or dental procedures — actions it maintained fall outside their legally defined scope of practice.
In separate statements, the Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA) Sindh and Islamabad branches said pharmacists have been unfairly included in allegations of unauthorised clinical practice without evidence. The associations maintained that pharmacy is a legally recognised and independently regulated profession under the Pharmacy Act, 1967, the Drugs Act, 1976, and the DRAP Act, 2012, with oversight by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan.
They said pharmacists play a critical role in ensuring the rational use of medicines, patient safety, pharmacovigilance and regulatory compliance, and warned that linking them with unlawful practices undermines professional integrity and creates confusion among the public.
The PPA representatives said it was reviewing legal options against the council for what they described as defamatory statements.
Both PPA panels demanded immediate clarification or withdrawal of the PMDC’s remarks, respect for the legal status of pharmacists and institutional co-ordination with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan on matters related to pharmacy practice.
