Code of ethics for pharmacy practice.

1. Code of Ethics
Presented by
Mr. Mukul Sharma
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Pharmacy, Medi-Caps University, Indore (M.P.)
mukul.sharma@medicaps.ac.in

2. Terms
• Ethics: code of moral principles for ideal human conduct.
• Code: Sets of rule
• Ethical practice: Ideal conduction under the law for the benefit of society.
• Malpractice: Improper, illegal and negligent professional behavior
• Propriety: Conformity to conventional accepted morals
• Apprentice: a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer,
having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.

3. Why code of ethics mend?
• Serve moral guidance to the pharmacist in the conduct of their
Professional practice.
• For ideal human conduct due to Nobel profession
• Regulate work and maintain standard
• Subordinating the individuals requirement of society at large.
• Basically, it’s a code of moral principals…..
• Maintain morality
• Opt Ethical practice

4. Benefits
• Efficient pharmacist services
• Quick and correct response
• Ethical services for benefit of society
• Misconduct can deny the Faith/Trust in customer.
• Readiness to assist colleagues with information and advice.
• Be a Good citizen and must uphold and defend under law of State
and Nation.

5. Pharmacist and its Job profile
Scope of Pharmacy: After successful registration of pharmacy,
Supply medicines without undue and delay. Willingness to furnish
emergency supplies at all times.
Conduct of pharmacy: Avoidable risk, error of accidental
contamination in preparation, dispensing, and supply of medicines.
E.S.I.C., (Employee State Insurance Scheme)
Handling of prescription: Received without any discussion and
comment over it, regarding merit and demerit its therapeutic efficacy.
Don’t show any physiognomic expression of alarm or astonishment
upon the prescription.

6.  Handling of prescription:
• Such things may cause anxiety in patients and lack of trust in
physician. Don’t disclose any information and rumours in public.
• Don’t alter the composition of prescriber without consent.
• There is no privilege of a pharmacist to add, omit, or substitute
any ingredient or alter the composition of prescription.
• Should Advise patients to use medicines.
Handling of Drugs: Reading, understanding, weighing, measuring,
dispensing prescription correctly.
• Visual estimation must be avoided.
Apprentice Pharmacist: Practical Training is must in hospital and
drug store for skills building and professional practice.

7. Pharmacist in relation to his trade
• Price structure: Fair, maintain quality, quantity of commodity,
adequate remuneration to pharmacist.
• Fair trade practice: Labels, trade marks and other sign and symbols
should not be copied at any circumstances.
• Purchase of drugs: Purchased from genuine and reputed sources,
don’t sold substandard and spurious drugs.
• Hawing of drugs: Without supervision of expert self medication is
highly undesirable.
• Advertising and display: No display materials, copied, misleading
brand name, lustful and obscene images either on premises and in the
press or elsewhere in connection with the sale to public of medicines
or appliances.

8. Pharmacist in relation to Medical Profession
• Clandestine arrangement: No pharmacist contract with a physician
to offer him any commission or any advantage by recommending his
dispensary or drug or even his self to patients and no secret
arrangement with physician.
• Liaison with public: A pharmacist should always keep himself
updated with advance technology and equipment's and able to educate
the people for maintaining healthy and sanitary condition of living.
• Limitation of Professional activity: In cases of emergencies a
pharmacist may however, render first aid to the victim.

9. Pharmacist in relation to his profession
• Professional vigilance: Pharmacist help in legitimate needs, scientific
and technical vigilant and maintain its fair name and tradition. It’s his
duty to make others also fulfil the provisions of the pharmaceutical
and other laws and regulations.
• Law abiding citizens: He has to enlightened citizen endowed with a
fair knowledge of the laws and pertaining to food, drug, pharmacy,
health, sanitation.
• Relationship with professional organizations.
• Decorum and propriety: the pharmacist should maintain dignity and
decorum of profession, always remember to bring discredit or upbraid
to the profession or to himself.

10. Pharmacist's Oath
• I swear by the code of Ethics of Pharmacy Council of India in relation to the community
and shall act as an integral part of health care team.
• I shall uphold the laws and standards governing my profession.
• I shall strive to perfect and enlarge my knowledge to contribute to the advancement of
pharmacy and public health.
• I shall fellow the system, which I consider best for pharmaceutical care and counseling of
patients.
• I shall endeavor to discover and manufacture drugs of quality to alleviate suffering of
humanity.
• I shall hold in confidence the knowledge gained about the patients in connection with
professional practice and never divulge unless compelled to do so by the law.
• I shall associate with organizations having their objectives for betterment of the
profession of pharmacy and make contribution to carry out the work of those
organizations.
• While I continue to keep this Oath inviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and
the practice of Pharmacy respected by all, at all times!
• Should I trespass and violate this oath, may the reverse be my lot!

11. References
• Jain N.K. (2018), “A Text Book of Forensic Pharmacy”, Reprint 2018,
Vallabh Prakashan, Eighth Edition, chapter-27, 484-492.
• Mithal B.M., Text book of Forensic Pharmacy”, Vallabh Prakashan,
ISBN: 9788185731131.