• Over 2,500 private pharmacies risk suspension over full-time pharmacist requirements
• Owners warn of economic impact, call on Health Ministry to resolve staffing shortage

The All Island Private Pharmacy Owners Association (ALPPOA) has requested the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to reconsider its decision not to renew the licences of 2,500 private pharmacies that risk suspension for failing to meet the requirement of employing a full-time licensed pharmacist.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, ALPPOA Spokesperson Sidath Suranga said that of the 4,802 private pharmacies operating in the country, 2,254 have already received renewed licenses. However, he said that 2,549 are at risk of suspension because they allegedly lack a full-time licensed pharmacist, a requirement under the NMRA Act.

“We have complied with all demands made by the NMRA, but the Health Ministry must provide the necessary human resources. The existing number of graduate pharmacists is inadequate, with some leaving the country after qualifying. We provide over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs as pharmacy owners. Rejecting renewals for these pharmacies would deprive people of their livelihoods,” he said.

The NMRA has tightened enforcement in recent months to prevent malpractice in pharmacy licensing, including the renting of licensed pharmacists’ names to operate outlets.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning, All Ceylon Government Pharmacists’ Association (ACGPA) President Chalith Amaradivakara explained that some pharmacies had been dispensing medicines through trainee pharmacists who had not completed proper training or under-qualified staff, in violation of the NMRA Act No. 5 of 2015. He noted that license holders sometimes hold other Government or private sector jobs, including teachers, nurses, or public health inspectors, and rent out their pharmacy licenses on a contractual basis.

Amaradivakara said that during the renewal process, authorities now verify the full-time employment status of pharmacists using their National Identity Card number, Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) number, and pension number. "The NMRA Act clearly sets out requirements for dispensing medicines. According to Section 120(2), a license holder must employ at least one pharmacist responsible for all pharmacy activities, including medicines, medical devices, and borderline products. Section 120(3) states that only a pharmacist or a registered trainee pharmacist under direct supervision may dispense these products."

When contacted by The Daily Morning, NMRA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema stressed the need for a properly qualified professional to guide the remaining staff in the pharmacy. Asked why the law had not been properly enforced over the past several years, he said that there could have been deficiencies in its implementation. “Previously, the Act was not applied adequately to detect wrongdoing by these pharmacies. However, after nearly ten years, the legal provisions of the NMRA Act are now being enforced to identify such misdoings."