Rahael under attack over Pharmacy Act changes

The Pharmacy Board (Amendment) Act 2006 is yet to be tabled in the House. The amendments relate to Section 17 — the register of pharmacists, and Section 18 — registration of pharmacists. Interviewed yesterday, PBTT President Wazir Hosein said, "It is bad, it is not good for the country. Based on how the legislation is, anyone can land and start to work."

He said no consultation took place with the board. Meetings scheduled with the parliamentary council at the end of last year to discuss the amendments were cancelled. Hosein said the board has seen the amendments and had expressed its objection to the "retrograde step."

Last year, Health Minister John Rahael said the ministry’s lawyers were reviewing the Pharmacy Board Act with the aim of making amendments, and introducing legislation which would allow the Filipino pharmacists to work without 500 hours of supervision — a customary requirement for pre-registration by the PBTT.

Rahael said the Accreditation Council of TT would identify a list of schools with four-year degree programmes in pharmacology whose graduates would qualify to practice in TT.

When he made the statement, local pharmacists were protesting for reclassification and higher salaries and the PBTT insisted that criteria were met before registration of the Filipino pharmacists. All of the Filipinos were eventually registered. Under Section 18 (clause one) of the Pharmacy Board Act all persons who are licensed are entitled to be registered as pharmacists and their names "be entered by the registrar on the Register of Pharmacists kept under this act."

Clause 2 states that any person who establishes to the satisfaction of the Council of the Pharmacy Board that they are 21 years old, of good character, and (a) holds a diploma which is recognised by the council "as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the possession of the requisite knowledge and skill to practice pharmacy" or (b) "has followed a course of training as a pharmaceutical apprentice and has passed the required examinations and otherwise has complied with provisions of this act" shall be entitled to be registered.

Section 17 of the Act relating to "a Register of Pharmacists" has been repealed as well as Section 18.

In place of Section 18, a new criteria has been substituted in which the registrar shall register an applicant wishing to be registered where he (a) is the holder of a diploma or degree in Pharmacology by any of the approved universities listed in the Sixth Schedule; and (b) has produced a Medical Certificate of fitness from a medical practitioner stating that he is physically fit and mentally sound to perform the duties of a pharmacist and (c) has produced a certificate of good character; and (d) has paid the prescribed fee.