Introduction

PCG Introduction        

The Practice of Pharmacy in The Gambia is regulated by The Pharmacy Council, The Gambia (PCG), a statutory body established by Part II Section 3 of Pharmacy Council Act, 2014 passed by the Parliament.

➤ The Pharmacy Council Act, 2014 (Act No. 15 of 2014) was assented to by The President on 26th day of December. 2014 with the following preamble- ” AN ACT to promote and protect the health and safety of the general public through safeguarding, maintaining and enforcing the highest standards in the practice of Pharmacy and for connected matters.”.

➤ The Pharmacy Council Act, 2014 was assented to on 26th day of December. 2014. The Bill was passed in the National Assembly on the 10th day of December, 2014. The Act (ISSN 0797-0298 Supplement “C” to The Gambia Gazette No. 22 of 29th December, 2014) was carefully compared with the Bill passed in the National Assembly on the 10th day of December, 2014 by the Clerk of the National Assembly and found to be the true and correct copy of the said Bill.

➤ The Pharmacy Council Act ((Act No. 15 of 2014) assented to by The President on the 26th day of December, 2014 is the Official version of the Act. This Act is legitimate Law of The Gambia for Pharmacy Practice and connected matters as enshrined in the Constitution of The Republic under Part II Section 7.

➤The Pharmacy Council was established by the said Act under Part II Section 3 of the Act.

GOAL

  • Promotion and Protection of health and safety of the general public through safeguarding, maintaining and enforcing the highest standards in the practice of Pharmacy and for connected matters.

AIMS        

  • Promotion of  Good Standards of Practice of Pharmacy for improved health of the general public
  • Promotion of  Pharmacy Education in The Gambia to increase the numbers for Pharmaceutical Personnel to meet the minimum staffing norms for all categories of pharmaceutical outlets.
  • Promotion of Continuous Pharmacy Education (CPE) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) as part of short-to-medium term strategies for increasing the numbers of Pharmacy Technicians and Dispensing Assistants.
  • Protection of Public Safety by prohibiting illegal and dangerous practices and connected matters and where necessary prosecute the accused or offender(s).
  • Enforcement of Pharmacy Regulations 2018.

OBJECTIVES

  • Regulation of the Pharmacy Education in The Gambia for the purpose of registration as pharmaceutical personnel under Pharmacy Council Act 2014 Part III Section 9.
  • Regulation of CPE and CPD as a short-to-medium term strategy for increasing the numbers of Pharmacy Technicians and Dispensing Assistants for the purpose of registration as pharmaceutical personnel under Pharmacy Council Act 2014 Part II Section 6e, 6g & Part III Section 9.
  • Enforcement of Regulations of Profession and Practice of Pharmacy in The Gambia for the purpose of licensing of premises under Pharmacy Council Act 2014 Part IV Sections 21, 22,23, 24 and Part V Section 25.
  • Promotion of Programmes for compliance to Part V Sections 25 to 32 by practitioners especially those practicing in wholesale, retail pharmacies, drugstores and those practicing in health facilities regulated by 1988 Medical Services Act: Chapter 9, Section 23, sub-section 1 as amended.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE PHARMACY COUNCIL

  •  Prescribing minimum standards of education required for qualifying as a pharmaceutical personnel and pharmacy support staff thus eligible for registration for internship. (Ref.: Part II section 6a & Part III Section 10 sub-2a)
  •  Framing of Education Regulations prescribing the conditions to be fulfilled by the institutions seeking approval of the GPC for imparting education pharmacy. in (Ref.: Part II section 6a the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  •  Evaluating and monitoring uniform implementation of the educational standards throughout the country. ( Ref.: Part II section 6b the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  •  Inspection of Pharmacy Training Institutions seeking approval under the Pharmacy Council Act 2014 to verify availability of the prescribed norms. ((Ref.: Part II section 6a the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  •   Approval of courses of study and examination for pharmaceutical personnel i.e. approval of academic training institutions providing pharmacy courses. Ref.: Part II section 6a the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  • Withdrawal if approved, a course of study or an approved examination if does not continue to be in conformity with the educational standards prescribed by the GPC. Ref.: Part II section 6b the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  • Approval of qualifications granted outside The Gambia to which The Pharmacy Council Act 2014 extends i.e. the approval of foreign qualification for the purpose of Registration and Temporary registration of Pharmaceutical personnel. (Ref. : Part III section 12 of The Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  • Registering pharmaceutical personnel and to cancel or suspend such certificates in terms of The Pharmacy Council Act 2014 (Ref: Part II Section 6c)
  • licensing of premises under Pharmacy Council Act 2014 Part IV Sections 21,22 and 23 and Part V Section 24
  • Maintaining Registers prescribed under this Act relating to Pharmacy Practice. (Ref: Part II Section 6f)
  • attend to and where possible, take disciplinary measures on complaints made by consumers (Ref.: Part II section 6h the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)
  • Inspecting licensed premises to assess level of compliance relevant provisions of the Pharmacy Act (Part VII Sections 37&38)
  • Closing premises that manufactures, sells or supplies medicines in accordance with Part VII Section 39 of the Act
  • Prosecuting offenders in accordance with Part VII Section 40 of the Act
  • Promoting programmes and or projects for protecting health and safety of the populace (Ref.: Part II section 6e the Pharmacy Council Act 2014)