Pharmacists’ Assn. warns of dispensing medicines without prescription

• Chairman Ajith Thilakaratne highlighted that the lack of regulation and professional oversight in dispensing medicines has led to serious health risks, including patient deaths from incorrectly used medications

By Mangala Pavithrani
The practice of dispensing medicines to patients without a prescription or the supervision of a qualified pharmacist is putting lives at risk, the Government Pharmacists Association has warned.   
Addressing a media briefing yesterday, Chairman Ajith Thilakaratne highlighted that the lack of regulation and professional oversight in dispensing medicines has led to serious health risks, including patient deaths from incorrectly used medications.   
“By law, a pharmacist must be present to provide medicines to patients in both private pharmacies and government dispensaries,” Thilakaratne said, emphasizing that patients are in danger when unqualified individuals handle prescription drugs.   

He pointed out that many private pharmacies routinely dispense medicines without a doctor’s approval when requested by patients. “We urge both private and government hospitals to employ qualified pharmacists to ensure patient safety,” he added.   
Thilakaratne also noted that patients often do not receive proper instructions or guidance about the medicines they are taking, due to the lack of professional knowledge among dispensers. He criticized some pharmacies for prioritizing commercial gain over proper storage and regulatory compliance, including failing to follow the guidelines of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority(NMRA).   
He reminded the public that under the National Medicines Regulatory Act No. 03 of 2015, every citizen has the right to receive medicines from a qualified pharmacist along with full information about their use. Thilakaratne urged anyone aware of pharmacies or institutions violating this law to report them to the NMRA.