It’s not only fake or expired drugs we should be watching out for, but also unlicensed pharmacists who sell what are supposed to be prescription drugs to any consumer, the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPA) warned.
PPA executive vice president and former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy Yolanda Robles issued the warning against “ghost pharmacists” due to the increasing number of drugstores that display certificates but do not have a licensed pharmacist on the site.
An Inquirer News report revealed that 7 out 10 drug stores surveyed in the Northern part of Metro Manila had no licensed pharmacist on duty. The PPA official said this could be dangerous for consumers since a pharmacist is needed to verify prescriptions before dispensing the meds. One should also be around to answer questions on dosages.
