Nearly 60 year old pharmacy law still awaits reform, pharmacists say  

Pakistan’s pharmacy sector is still waiting for major legal reform as pharmacists say the nearly six decade old Pharmacy Act,

Islamabad: Pakistan’s pharmacy sector is still waiting for major legal reform as pharmacists say the nearly six decade old Pharmacy Act, 1967, no longer fully meets the needs of modern healthcare, patient safety and professional pharmacy practice.

The Young Pharmacists Community Pakistan has urged the National Assembly to take up the pending amendments to the Pharmacy Act, saying the reform process has already moved through the Senate but has not yet reached completion in Parliament.

Pharmacy representatives say the law was suitable for its time when introduced in 1967, but almost 60 years have passed and the role of pharmacists has changed greatly. They say pharmacy is no longer limited to selling or dispensing medicines.

According to the existing law, the Pharmacy Act, 1967, was introduced to establish Pharmacy Councils and regulate the practice of pharmacy in Pakistan. The law created the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and provincial pharmacy councils.

Under the Act, the councils have powers relating to registration, examinations, approval of courses, practical training, inspection of institutions and maintenance of professional registers.

However, pharmacists say one of the major problems is that the old law does not clearly reflect modern categories and duties in the pharmacy profession. They argue that the definition and register based structure need to be updated so that the role of qualified pharmacists and other pharmacy categories is properly separated and explained.

According to the Act, a pharmacist is linked with registration in Register A or Register B, while qualifications may include a recognized pharmacy degree, diploma or passing an examination held by a provincial council. Pharmacists say this old structure creates confusion in today’s professional environment.

Young Pharmacists Community Pakistan said the law should clearly define pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy services, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy and professional responsibilities in line with present-day healthcare needs.

The community said modern pharmacists support patient care, medicine safety, drug information, public health, hospital services, clinical services, medicine management, research and patient counselling. They say these responsibilities are not properly reflected in the old legal framework.

Pharmacy representatives said efforts for reform started around 2019 with support from lawmakers. They said a Private Member Bill seeking amendments to the Pharmacy Act was passed by the Senate in 2023, but the matter has remained pending for further legislative action.

They said the Senate’s passage completed an important part of the process, but the bill still needs action in the National Assembly before the reform can become law. They urged both government and opposition members to treat the matter as a public health issue rather than a political issue.

The community said the proposed reform did not face major objection in the Senate because it was linked with professional regulation and patient safety. It said any lawmaker who helps move the bill forward in the National Assembly would be supported by the pharmacy community.

Pharmacists also pointed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where they say efforts by the pharmacy community helped secure approval of a pharmacy services policy from the provincial cabinet. They said the next step in the province is expected to involve creation of proper posts.

However, they said provincial policy alone cannot solve the national issue. They said Pakistan needs updated federal legislation to give a clear structure to pharmacy services, professional roles, registration, education standards and career pathways.

Pharmacy representatives said pharmacist posts in public institutions are often created on a need basis, without a proper long term structure. They said a modern law can help improve planning for hospitals, public health facilities and community level medicine services.

The community said the issue is not only about pharmacists’ careers. It is also about patients who need safe medicine use, proper counselling, correct dosage guidance, drug interaction advice and better access to professional pharmacy services.

They said weak regulation can increase the risk of medicine misuse, unsafe dispensing and poor patient guidance. They added that better pharmacy laws can support safer healthcare delivery in both public and private sectors.

The Young Pharmacists Community Pakistan said pharmacy reform should be treated as part of wider healthcare reform. It said a strong pharmacy system can help hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and communities use medicines more safely and effectively.

Pharmacist Advocate Noor Muhammad Mahar, President Pakistan Drug Lawyer Forum, said the Pharmacy Act was introduced in 1967 when the profession was divided into different categories, including A category pharmacists who complete a five-year pharmacy degree after FSc, while B category mostly includes dispensers who are also allowed to run medical stores in some provinces, including Punjab.

He said young pharmacists want the law updated so that pharmacy services, medical stores and clinical pharmacy are regulated according to modern standards. He urged the government to introduce fresh legislation after almost six decades and said, in his view, only A category pharmacists should be allowed to run medical stores and clinical pharmacy services, while at least one pharmacist should be mandatory for every 50 hospital beds. He said pharmacists are an important pillar of the health sector and should be given their proper legal and professional role through updated laws.

The community said it has met different lawmakers over the years and raised the issue at several forums, but practical progress has remained slow. It said the demand is simple: update the old law, remove confusion in definitions and give pharmacists a proper professional structure.

The group said the reform would help improve pharmacy education, professional recognition, postgraduate training, hospital services, patient counselling and medicine safety.

It also said Pakistan cannot modernize healthcare while an important healthcare profession continues to work under an outdated legal framework.

Young Pharmacists Community Pakistan called on the government, opposition, standing committees and health authorities to move the matter forward. It said the reform would benefit pharmacists, patients and the wider healthcare system.