Up to 3 Months Jail, Rs 2 Lakh Fine if Unregistered Persons Found Operating Pharmacy: Chhattisgarh Pharmacy Council

Raipur: There will be an imprisonment of up to 3 months or a fine of Rs 2 lakh if any unregistered persons are found running a pharmacy or dispensing medicines, a recent notice by Chhattisgarh State Pharmacy Council has stated.

The notice, which was issued by Ashwini Gurdekar, the Registrar of Chhattisgarh Pharmacy Council on 16th May 2024 warned the operators/ pharmacists working in the hospitals, pharmacies, and medical stores across the State regarding the rules specified under the Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act 1948.

As per the provisions under the 1948 Act, medicines have to be dispensed or sold by registered pharmacists only. If any violations are found in this regard and if any unregistered individuals are found dispensing, distributing, or selling medicines, the section called for penalties including imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of Rs 1,000, or both.

However, in the notice, the Council referred to the amendment introduced in the Act in 2023, which revised the penal provision of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act-1948. 

The amendment was introduced last year through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act-2023, which was published on 11.08.2023. According to serial number 9 page number 13 amendment number D of Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act -2023, the penal provision of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act 1948 was modified.

As per the amended provisions, unregistered individuals, if found guilty of dispensing medicines, will face imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine of Rs 2 lakh or both.

Further, urging all the concerned parties to comply with these provisions to avoid facing the stipulated penalties, the Pharmacy Council strictly warned that any violations will result in the responsible individuals being subject to the prescribed legal actions.

Chhattisgarh State Pharmacy Council was formed in the year 2003 after Chhattisgarh State was formed after it got separated from Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh State pharmacy Council is a statutory body constituted by the Government of Chhattisgarh under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act of 1948. It consists of 6 members elected by Registered Pharmacists amongst themselves, five members nominated by Government of Chhattisgarh, one member elected by Chhattisgarh Medical Council and three Ex-Officio Members.

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