Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics

As adopted by Pharmacy Council of India under chapter-I: General Introduction, The profession of pharmacy is noble in its ideals and pious in its character. Apart from being a career for earning livelihood it has inherent in it the attitude of service and sacrifice in the interests of the suffering humanity. In handling, selling, distributing, compounding and dispensing medical substances including poisons and potent drugs a pharmacist is, in collaboration with medical men and others, charged with the onerous responsibility of safeguarding the health of people, as such he has to uphold the interests of his patrons above all things. The lofty ideals set up by Charaka, the ancient Philosopher Physician and Pharmacist in his erunciation : "Even if your own life be in danger you should not betray or neglect the interests of your patients" should be fondly cherished by all Pharmacist.

Government restricts the practice of Pharmacy to those who qualify under regulatory requirements and grant them privileges necessarily denied to others. In return Government expects the Pharmacist to recognise his responsibilities and to fulfill his professional obligations honorably and with due regard for the well being of Society.

Standards of professional conduct for pharmacy are necessary in the public interest to ensure an efficient pharmaceutical service. Every pharmacist should not only be willing to play his part in giving such a service but should also avoid any act or omission which would prejudice the giving of the services or impair confidence in any respect for pharmacists as a body.

The nature of pharmaceutical practice is such that its demands may be beyond the capacity of the individual to carry out or to carry out as quickly or as efficiently as the needs of the public require. There should, therefore at all times, be a readiness to assist colleagues with information or advice.

A Pharmacist must, above all be a good citizen and must uphold and defend the laws of the state and the Nation.

Pharmacist in relation to his job

Scope of pharmaceutical service: 

When premises are registered under statutory requirements and opened as a pharmacy, reasonably comprehensive pharmaceutical services should be provided. This commonly required medicines of this nature without undue delay. It also involves willingness to furnish emergency supplies at all times.

Conduct of the pharmacy:

It should be clear to the public that practices of Pharmacy are carried out in the establishment. Signs, notices, description, which do not or imply pharmaceutical qualifications, should be limited to those of which the use is restricted by law. A notice stating that dispensing under employees by government is carried out may be exhibited at the premises. In every pharmacy, there should be a pharmacist in personal control of pharmacy that will be regarded as primarily responsible for the observance of proper standards of conduct in connection with it.

Handling of prescriptions:

A prescription is presented for dispensing; it should be received by a pharmacist without any discussion or comment over it, regarding the merits and demerits of its therapeutic efficacy. In case of any error in it, due to any omission, incompatibility or over dosage, the prescription should be referred back to the presciber.

Fair trade practice: 

No attempt should be made to capture the business of a contemporary by cut throat competitions that are by offering any sort of prizes or gift. Label trade marks and other signs and symbols of contemporaries should not be imitated or copied.

Purchase of drug: 

Drug should be purchased from genuine and reputable source and a pharmacist should always be on if guard not to aid or abet, directly or indirectly.

Hawking of drug: 

Hawking of drugs and medicinals should not be encouraged, not should any attempt be made to solicit orders for such substances from door to door.

Advertising and display

(a) Any wording design or illustration reflecting unfavorably on pharmacist collectively or upon any group of individual.

(b) Misleading or exaggerated statements or claims.

(c) A guarantee of therapeutic efficacy.

(d) An appeal to fear.

(e) A prize competition or similar scheme.

(f) For correction or approval of the change suggested.

Handling of drug: 

All possible care should be taken to dispense a prescription correctly by weighing and measuring all ingredients. Incorrect proportion by the help of scales and measures, visual estimation must be avoided. A pharmacist should always use drugs and medicinal preparations of standard quality. He should never fill his prescription with spurious sub-standard and unethical preparation.

Apprentice pharmacist: 

While incharge of a dispensary, drug store or hospital pharmacy where apprentice pharmacist are admitted for practical training. A pharmacist should see that the trainees are given full facilities for their work, so that on the completion of their training they have acquired sufficient technique and skill to neck themselves dependable pharmacist.

Pharmacist in relation to his trade

Price structure: 

Price charged from customers should be fair and in keeping with the quality and quantity of commodity supplied and the labor and skill required in making it ready for use.

Pharmacist in relation to medical profession

Limitation of professional activity: Whereas it is expected that practitioners in general would not take to practice of pharmacy by owing drug stores as this ultimately leads to coded prescriptions and monopolistic, detrimental to the pharmaceutical profession and also to the interest of patients; it should be made a general rule that pharmacist under no circumstances, take to medical practices that is diagnosing diseases and prescribing remedies, therefore even if requested patrons do so.

No pharmacist should recommend particular medical practitioner unless specifically ask to do so.

Clandestine arrangements:

 No pharmacist should enter into any secret arrangements or conduct with the physician, to offer him any commission or any advantage by recommending his dispensary or drug store himself to the patients.

Liaison with public: Being a liaison between medical profession and people, a pharmacist should always keep himself abreast with the modern developments in pharmacy and other periodicals.

Pharmacist in relation to his profession

It is not sufficient for a pharmacist to be law abiding and to deter from doing things derogatory to the society and his profession, but it should be his duty to make others also fulfill the provisions of the pharmaceutical and other law regulations.

Law-abiding citizen: 

A pharmacist is a unit whole and his life cannot be divided into compartments. A pharmacist, engaged in profession has to be an enlightened citizen endowed with a fair knowledge of the law of the land and he should be particularly conversant with the enactments pertaining to food, drug, pharmacy, health, sanitation and the like and endeavor to abide by them in every phase of his life.

Relationship with professional organizations

In order to inculcate a corporate life in his own professional colleagues, should join and advance the cause of all such organizations, the aims and objects of which are conducive to scientific, moral and cultural well-being of pharmacists and at the same time are in no way contrary to the code of Pharmaceutical ethics.

Decorum and proprietary:

A pharmacist should always refrain from doing all such acts and deeds which are not in consonance with the decorum of pharmaceutical profession and are likely to bring discredit or upbraid to the profession or to him.