The document outlines a code of ethics for community pharmacists, emphasizing the distinction between laws and ethical practices in pharmacy. It highlights the responsibilities of pharmacists to maintain professional standards, ensure safe dispensing of medicines, and uphold the integrity of the profession while detailing unethical practices to avoid. Additionally, it specifies the importance of ethics in guiding pharmacists to serve the public and health profession effectively.

1. DR.RAGHAVENDRA S HEGDE
Code of Ethics for
community Pharmacist

2. Learning Objective
 Laws and Ethics
 3 pillars of Laws and Ethics
 Code of Ethics statements for pharmacist
 Unethical Acts

3. Laws and Ethics
 Laws are rules of legal binding on all persons in a state or nation.
 Laws are enforced by the government to ensure discipline in
work with focus of betterment for all.
 These are compulsory and expected that everyone must follow
them otherwise the illegal act is eligible for some punishment.
 But, extent to follow laws is individual choice that is governed by
willingness, behaviour and moral values of an individual.
 This means only enactment of law cannot achieve any objectives but it
should go parallel with code of ethics.

4. Code of Ethics
 Ethics is related to attitude and morality.
 For example, all the prescription drugs must be dispensed under direct
supervision of a pharmacist is statement of law made in Drug and
Cosmetic Act, 1940.
 But till date, it is not completely followed in India. Many prescription
drugs are dispensed upon demand, by patient or care giver without
prescription and sometimes without a valid prescription.
 Since, moral values of pharmacists are weak and attitude is only to
sale the drugs, which keeps them deviating from ethical and legal
practice.

5. 3 Pillars of Law and Ethics
Thus, 3 Ps are triangles of any quality work/any profession that stands
on pillars of Law and Ethics.
PERCEPTION
To Achieve
Excellence
in
Profession
PASSION
Honest
Work
Services for
Humanity
PRIDE
Great
Satisfaction
for Pharmacy
Services
rendered

6. Definition :Pharmacy Code of Ethics
 Pharmacy code of ethics can be defined as, "principles, obligations,
values, standards or rules of behaviour, that guide a Pharmacist
to follow procedures, to take decisions and adopt systems in a way that
leads to the welfare of its key stakeholders (Patient or consumers),
and respects the rights of all those who are involved directly or
indirectly in the health care".

7. Thus, laws and ethics differ, to summarise:
1. Law is process of controlling act by government through their
officers but ethics is self-motivated.
2. Laws are passed and implemented by government but codes of
ethics are made for any council like Pharmacy Council of India,
any association, organization for their members.
3. Law is mandate but ethics is a choice.
4. Working as per law avoids punishment whereas, following code of
ethics gives immense satisfaction. Practicing both, law and ethics
is a sign of complete gentleman.
5. Drug and Cosmetic act 1940 and rules 1945 explains about
various drug laws and Pharmacy Act 1948 enlists statements of
code of ethics.
6. The recently enforced Pharmacy Practice Regulation 2015 is blend
of these with a special note on ethical and un-ethical conducts.

8. Code of Ethics Summary
 The codes of ethics guide pharmacists for their daily practice, maintain professional
relationships with patients, other healthcare professionals and society.
 The code of ethics is beneficial for those:
1. who want to enter in pharmacy profession. It guides them about the moral
commitments pharmacy profession and serves as source for gaining required
education and skills.
2. According to Pharmacy Practice Regulation 2015, each applicant, at the time of making an
application for registration under the provisions of the Act, shall be provided a copy of the
duly signed declaration (Appendix III) along with copies of Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics
and Pharmacist's oath.
3. Who are in the profession, where code of ethics serves as a basis for self evaluation
and peer review, and
4. who are outside the profession, it provides public identification and image, and
scope of fulfilling the expectations of society on large.

9. Code of Ethics Statement for Pharmacist
 The Pharmacy Act 1948 has been listing following statement of code of
ethics for community pharmacist and also the Pharmacy Practice
Regulation 2015 recalls these.
 In that turn, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) expect from their members
to serve the society according to the code of ethics.
I. The appearance of the premises should reflect the professional
character of Pharmacy and indicate to the public that the
practice of pharmacy is the main purpose of the establishment.
 Pharmacy is one of the vital health professions and the practice of
pharmacy is a service provided by registered pharmacists under different
designations laid down by Pharmacy Practice regulation viz. Community
Pharmacist/Hospital Pharmacist/ Clinical Pharmacist/Drug Information
Pharmacist. Therefore, the premises should have interior and exterior that
reflect pharmacy practice profession.

10.  Name of the registered pharmacist along with his registration
number, qualification and his/her photograph shall be displayed
adjacent to the area where dispensing is carried out in the
pharmacy.
 Registered pharmacist shall also comply with a dress code of being
dressed formally and wearing clean white coat/apron with a badge
displaying the name and registration number.
II.In every pharmacy, there should be a qualified, registered
and competent personnel to have control over the
pharmacy.
• He/she should be a pharmacist who shall be primarily responsible
for the observance of proper standards of conduct in connection
with it.
• No person other than a Registered Pharmacist shall compound,
prepare, mix, dispense or supply any of medicine.

11.  Community pharmacist is an individual currently registered and who
practices according to legal and ethical guidelines to ensure the correct and
safe dispensing of medical products to the general public.
 They are involved in maintaining and improving public health by providing
advice and information as well as supplying and dispensing prescription
medicines.
 A registered pharmacist should be an upright person, instructed in the art
of medicines.
 He shall keep himself pure character and be diligent in caring for the sick;
he should be modest, sober, patient, prompt in discharging his duty
without anxiety; conducting himself with propriety in his profession and in
all the actions of his life.

12.  A registered pharmacist shall uphold the dignity and honour of his
profession.
 A qualified and competent pharmacist should have personal control
over the pharmacy and the pharmacist shall be primarily responsible
for the observance of proper standards of conduct in connection with it.
 A person having qualification in any other system of pharmacy is not
allowed to practice modern system of pharmacy in any form.
III.Drugs and other ingredients should be purchased from
reputed source.
• All the medicines should be purchased from licensed
manufacturer/wholesaler. Further he should ensure that these are
properly stocked, if required in air- conditioned warehouse.

13.  Price of medicines charged from the customer should be fair and including
dispensing and compounding charges without unduly taxing purchaser.
The registered pharmacist, engaged in the practice of pharmacy profession
shall give priority to the interests of patients.
 The personal financial interests of a registered pharmacist shall not conflict
with the medical interests of patients.
IV. A pharmacist should not make any attempt to capture the
business of fellow competitor by offering unfair discounts, gift,
prizes etc.
• Competition is challenge for business and pharmacist should accept it by
offering professional and value added services as positive effort but not by
offering heavy discounts and gifts.
• A registered pharmacist should expose, without fear, incompetent or
corrupt. dishonest or unethical conduct on the part of members of the
profession.

14. V. After receiving the prescription, a pharmacist should
not show any such emotion on his face as to make the
patient lose their faith in the prescriber.
• Prescription presented for dispensing should not be discussed
with patient or others regarding the merits and demerits of
their therapeutic efficacy.
• Pharmacist should neither discuss physicians' prescription
with customers nor disclose to them irrationality or errors of
prescription.
 The Pharmacy Act, 1948 mentions above statements.
However, over a period of progress of pharmacy profession
and expectations from pharmacists at global level, Pharmacy
Practice Regulation 2015 was reframed in interest of
providing effective pharmaceutical care.

15. The code of ethics, briefly summarised, which are as
follows:
 Every expression and effort made by Pharmacist should lead to building patients
confidence towards the health profession.
 Every registered pharmacist should dispense only those medicines as prescribed by
the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) and shall not substitute the prescription.
 A Registered pharmacist should undertake a pharmaceutical assessment of every
prescription presented for dispensing, where he should apply his knowledge to
establish the safety, quality, efficacy and rational use of drugs treatments specified
by a prescriber. But it should not be discussed with patient otherwise it may develop
confusion or fear in mind of patient.
 Appropriate information should be provided to the patient or the care giver and,
where possible, understanding of this information should be checked.
 Registered pharmacist should initiate patient counselling that will enhance or
optimize drug therapy.
 Patient confidentiality should be maintained at all times.

16. VI.Pharmacist is a link between medical professionals and
public. He should constantly upgrade himself with recent
developments in pharmacy and allied fields.
• He should be expert in the field of pharmacy and should advice
physicians whenever required, and educate the public to safeguard
their health.
• A registered pharmacist should participate in professional educational
and trainings like Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) programmes,
workshops and seminars organized by reputed professional academic
bodies or any other authorized associations/organizations to upgrade
knowledge and skills.

17. To promote rational use of drugs, the pharmacist should
involve himself in activities such as:
 Preparation of formularies both at the hospital level and at
state/national levels.
(i)Critical assessment of promotional materials prepared by the drug
companies.
(ii) Dissemination of evaluated information through authorized
sources.
(iii) Organize educational programmes for health professionals.
(iv) Preparation and dissemination of patient information leaflets
(PIL).
 For promotion of business or for personnel benefit community
pharmacist should not recommend name of any medical practitioner to
patients.

18. VII.A pharmacist should provide efficient and reasonable comprehensive and
pharmaceutical services through the medical store or pharmacy.
 A Registered Pharmacist should review the patient record and each
prescription presented for supply for the purpose of promoting
therapeutic appropriateness by identifying the following drug related
problems and he should take appropriate steps to avoid or resolve
these.
(i) Overutilization or underutilization.
(ii) Therapeutic duplication.
(iii) Drug-disease interactions.
(iv) Drug-drug interactions.
(v) Incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment.
(vi) Drug-allergy interactions.
(vii) Correlation of availability of drugs (to avoid artificial shortage of
drugs).
(viii) Clinical abuse/misuse.

19.  Registered pharmacist should not wilfully commit an act of negligence
that may deprive his patient or patients from necessary medical care.
 With a caring attitude and a compassionate spirit, a pharmacist should
serve the patient in a private and confidential manner.
 Self-servicing method should not be allowed, as it would encourage
self-medication.
 Even OTC medicines should be dispensed by pharmacists only after
confirming need of the patient.

20. Unethical Acts
 In community pharmacy practice there are certain acts that
are considered to be unethical, such as:
(i) Advertising: Promoting any particular drug product or company's
product directly or indirectly by registered pharmacist or by
pharmacists' institutions or organizations is unethical.
 A registered pharmacist using his name, position or knowledge in any
form of advertising.
 A registered pharmacist providing certificate of quality, therapeutic
article, apparatus or appliance or any commercial product for financial
benefits.
 Printing of self photograph in the letter head or on display board of the
"Pharmacy“ shall be regarded as acts of self advertisement.
 Advertisements related to offers and discounts on medicinal products.

21. (ii) Rebates and Commission:
 A registered pharmacist giving any gift, commission or bonus in consideration of or
return for the referring of any patient for purchase of medicines.
 Directly or indirectly involved in sharing the profits with any other healthcare
professionals involved in promoting sale of medicines.
(iii) Secret Remedies:
 Promoting and dispensing of the secret remedial agents.
(iv) Human Rights:
 The Registered Pharmacist violating human rights through his/her professional
conduct.
 Concealing any illegal or unethical act done by fellow professional or any other
healthcare professional or agencies.

22. Summary
 Laws are rules of legal binding on all persons in a state or nation.
 Ethics is related to attitude and morality.
 3 pillars for laws and ethics
1. The appearance of the premises should reflect the professional character
of Pharmacy
2. In Every Pharmacy there should be Q.P .(RPH)
3. Drugs and other ingredients should be purchased from reputed source.
4. A pharmacist should not make any attempt to capture the business of
fellow competitor by offering unfair discounts
5. A pharmacist should not show any such emotion on his face
6. A Pharmacist is a link between medical professionals and public.
7. A pharmacist should provide efficient and reasonable comprehensive
and pharmaceutical services through the medical store or pharmacy.