Spot checks on chemists to check legal compliance

THE NEW PHARMACY regulator is to carry out spot checks to ensure that pharmacies comply with new guidelines on over-the-counter medicines.

The spot checks at chemists will cover all over-the-counter medicines but particularly the most common painkiller, paracetamol.

Since December the law on paracetamol supply has been updated and pharmacists are not allowed to sell more than 24 tablets without advising the customer of the dangers involved.

A study carried out by psychiatrists at UCD recently found that half of 20 chemists examined in Dublin did not comply with the regulations in relation to the sale of paracetamol and were dispensing more than the legal limit without consulting the customer.

It also recommended that over-the-counter painkillers should not be available in retail outlets.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), which took over the regulation of pharmacies in January, has described paracetamol as an “extremely harmful drug” which can cause permanent liver damage or death.

Its spokeswoman Kate O’Flaherty said people had become complacent about paracetamol.

“It is the number one drug involved in poisoning and overdoses. There is an obligation that it be supplied safely to people,” she said.

The society has issued a reminder notice to pharmacies regarding new regulations governing the supply of medicines.

A pharmacist must be satisfied that the patient is aware of the safe and proper use of all medicines and that it is not intended for misuse or abuse.

Ms O’Flaherty said the public needed to be aware that these regulations were in place and if pharmacists asked them questions, they were only doing their job.

The guidelines are included in the new Pharmacy Act which came into force on January 1st.

Since then, it has been a criminal offence not to register a pharmacy with the PSI.