In India there was no restriction to practice the

profession of pharmacy. One could practice this

profession as any other profession. Persons, having
no knowledge and having no education in
pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry or
pharmacology, were engaged in this profession.
Hundreds of cases were brought to the notice of
the Government wherein the compounding,
mixing, or dispensing of medicines was being done
by persons who were not adequately educated in
this line.
The system was causing great harm to the
health of people by wrong compounding,
mixing or dispensing.
It was found necessary to enact a law for the
regulation of the profession and practice of
pharmacy. To achieve this goal the
Pharmacy Bill, 1947 was introduced in the
Legislature which was later referred to the
Select Committee. The recommendations of
the Selection Committee were incorporated
in the Bill.
As in most other countries, only persons who have
attained a minimum standard of professional
education should be permitted to practice the
Profession of Pharmacy. It is accordingly proposed
to establish a Central Council of Pharmacy, which
will prescribe the minimum standards of
education and approve courses of study and
examinations for Pharmacists, and Provincial
Pharmacy Councils, which will be responsible for
the maintenance of provincial registers of
qualified pharmacists.
The Pharmacy Bill, 1947, having been passed by
the Legislature received its assent on 4th March,
1948.
It came on the Statute Book as THE PHARMACY
ACT, 1948 (8 of 1948).
1. The Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
2. The Adaptation of Laws (No.3) Order, 1956.
3. The Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1959 (24 of 1959).
4. The Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1976 (70 of 1976).
5. The Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1982 (22 of 1982).
6. The Delegated Legislation Provisions (Amendment)
Act, 1985 (4 of 1986).
1.Short title, extent and commencement:-
(a) This Act may be called the pharmacy Act, 1948.
(b) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu
and Kashmir.
(c) It shall come into force at once, but Chapters III, IV and V
shall take effect in a particular State from such date.
(d) As the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint in this behalf.
(e) Provided that where on account of the territorial changes
brought about by the reorganization of States on the 1st day
of November, 1956, Chapters III, IV and V have effect only in
a part of a State, the said Chapters shall take effect in the
remaining part of that State from such date as the State
Government may in like manner appoint.
2.Interpretation.-In this Act, unless there is
anything repugnant in the subject or
context,
a) "agreement" means an agreement entered into under
section 20.
b) "approved" means approved by the Central Council under
section 12 or section 14.
c) "Central Council" means the Pharmacy Council of India
constituted under section 3.
d) "Central Register" means the register of pharmacists
maintained by the Central Council under section.
e) "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee of
the Central Council or of the State Council
The Pharmacy Council of India consists of the following:
(i) Six members, among whom at least one teacher of
pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy. Pharmacology and
pharmacology elected by the University Grants Commission.
(ii) Six members, four of whom are persons possessing a degree
or diploma in and practicing pharmacy or pharmaceutical
chemistry, nominated by the Central Government .
(iii) One member elected from amongst themselves by the
members of the Medical Council of India.
(iv) the Director General of Health Services or an authorized
person by him.
(v) the Drugs Controller of India or an authorized person by
him,
(vi) the Director of Central Drugs Laboratory,
(vii) a representative of the University Grants Commission,
(viii) a representative of the All India Council for Technical
Education.
(ix) One member to represent each state elected from each state
council and who is a registered pharmacist,
(x) One member to represent each state nominated by the State
Government who is a registered pharmacist.’
(xi) One member to represent each Union territory, nominated
by the Union territory Council, being eligible for
registration under section 31 of the Act,
(I) The Central Government, make regulations, to be
called the Education Regulations, prescribing the
minimum standard of education required for
qualification as a pharmacist.
(II) The Education Regulations may prescribe
(a) the nature and period of study and of practical training
to be undertaken before admission to an examination;
(b) the equipment and facilities to be provided for
students undergoing approved courses of study;
(c) the subjects of examination and the standards therein
to be attained;
(d) any other conditions of admission to examinations.
(III) The Education Regulations shall be
published in the Official Gazette and in
such other manner as the Central Council
may direct.

(IV) The Executive Committee shall from

time to time report to the Central Council
on the efficacy of the Education
Regulations and may recommend to the
Central Council such amendments thereof
as it may think of it .
The State Pharmacy Council consist s of the following:-
(i) Six members, elected from amongst themselves by registered
pharmacists,
(ii) Five members, of whom three are persons possessing a prescribed
degree or diploma in pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry or
registered pharmacist, nominated by State Government.
(iii) one member, elected from amongst themselves by the members
of each Medical Council or the Council
of Medical Registration of the State,
(iv) the chief administrative medical officer of the State or his
authorized person,
(v) the officer-i n-charge of drugs control organization of the State or
his authorized person,
(vi) the Government Analyst.
(i) not less than three and not more than five members elected
amongst themselves by the registered pharmacists of each of
the participating States,
(ii) not less than three but not more than four members
nominated by each participating State Government
(iii) one member elected from amongst themselves by the
members of each Medical Council or the Council of Medical
Registration of each participating State,
(iv) the chief administrative medical officer of each
participating State or his authorized person,
(v) the officer in-charge of drugs control organization of each
participating State or his authorized person.
(vi) the Government Analyst of each participating State.
As soon as may be after this chapter has taken effect in any
State, the State Government shall cause to be prepared in the
manner hereinafter provided a register of pharmacists for the
State.
The register shall include the following particulars, namely:
(a) the full name and residential address of the registered
person;
(b) the date of his first admission to the register;
(c) his qualifications for registration;
(d) his professional address, and if he is employed by any
person, the name of such person;
(e) such further particulars as may be prescribed.
A person who has attained the age of eighteen years shall be
entitled on payment of the prescribed fee to have his name entered
in the first register if he resides. or carries on the business or
profession of pharmacy, in the State and if he
(a) holds a degree or diploma in pharmacy or pharmaceutical
chemistry or a chemist and druggist diploma of an Indian
University or a State Government as the case may be. or a
prescribed qualification granted by an authority outside India,
(b) holds a degree of an Indian University other than a degree in
pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry and has been engaged
in the compounding of drugs in a hospital or dispensary or
other place in which drugs are regularly dispensed on
prescriptions of medical practitioners for a total period of not
less than three years,
(c) has passed an. examination recognized as adequate by the
State Government for commoners or dispensers,
(d) has been engaged in the compounding of drugs in a hospital
or dispensary or other place in which drugs are regularly
dispensed on prescriptions of medical practitioners for a total
period of not less than five years prior to the date notified under
subsection (2) of section 30.
Removal from register:-
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Executive
Committee may order that the name of a registered
pharmacist shall be removed from the register, where it is
satisfied, after giving him a reasonable opportunity of
being heard and after such further inquiry, if any, as it may
think fit to make,--
(i) that his name has been entered into the register by error or
on account of misrepresentation or suppression of a material
fact,
(ii) that he has been convicted of any offence or has been guilty
of any infamous conduct in any professional respect which in
the opinion of the Executive Committee, renders him unfit to be
kept in the register ,
(iii)that the offence or infamous conduct was instigated or
connived at by the registered Pharmacist, or that the registered
pharmacist has at any time during the period of twelve months
immediately preceding the date on which the offence or
infamous conduct took place committed a similar offence or
been guilty of similar infamous conduct,
(iv)that where the offence or infamous conduct continued over a
period, the registered pharmacist had, or reasonably ought to
have had, knowledge of the continuing offence or infamous
conduct,
(2) An order under sub-section (I) may direct that the person
whose name is ordered to be removed from the register shall be
ineligible for registration in the State under this Act either
permanently or for such period as may be specified.
(3) An order under sub-section (1) shall be subject to
confirmation by the State Council and shall not take effect until
the expiry of three months from the date of such confirmation.
(4) A person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) which
has been confirmed by the State Council may, within thirty days
from the communication to him of such confirmation, appeal to
the State Government, and the order of the State Government
upon such appeal shall be final.
(5) A person whose name has been removed from the register
under this section or under sub-section (2) of section 34 shall
forthwith surrender his certificate or registration to the
Registrar, and the name so removed shall be published in the
Official Gazette.
Penalty for falsely claiming to be registered:-
(l) If any person whose name is not for the time being entered
into the register of the State falsely pretends that it is so entered
, he shall be punishable on first conviction with fine which may
extend to five hundred rupees and on any subsequent
conviction with imprisonment extending to six months or with
fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or with both.
(2) For the purposes of this section
(a) it shall be immaterial whether or not any person is deceived
by such pretense or use as aforesaid;
(b) the use of the description "pharmacist", "chemist",
"druggist" "Pharmaceuticst", "dispenser", "dispensing chemist",
or any combination of such words shall be deemed to be
reasonably calculated to suggest that the person using such
description is a person whose name is for the time being
entered in the register of the State;
(3) Cognizance of an offence punishable under this section shall
not be taken except upon complaint made by order of the State
Government or I [any officer authorized in this behalf by the
State Government or by order of] the Executive Committee of
the State Council.
A person who falsely pretends that his name is entered in the
register shall be punishable on first conviction with fine upto
five hundred rupees or on any subsequent conviction with
imprisonment upto six months or with fine upto one thousand
rupees or with both.
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