Drug Dispensation by ‘Signature Pharmacists’ in South Asia

Abstract

The phenomenon of ‘signature pharmacists’ in South Asia has allowed allopathic prescription medication to be dispensed without the necessary medical knowledge, specifically of drug interactions, dosages and side effects. This practice, in which qualified pharmacists delegate their professional inputs to often unqualified and unsupervised sales staff, persists due to complicity among pharmacists, other healthcare professionals and regulatory officials. The article discusses the extent of this significant risk to public health in South Asia and argues that pharmacy enforcement and education standards should be reformed to address these huge challenges to ensure consumer protection and the general public’s welfare. While the advice is that regulatory authorities should intensify their supervision and inspection efforts to ensure registered pharmacists actively participate in regular pharmacy operations, the article also identifies predicaments related to corruption that are difficult to tackle.