Islamabad: A sharp regulatory clash has erupted in Pakistan’s health sector, with pharmacists accusing the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) of overstepping its mandate and misrepresenting their role after the medical regulator warned against “unauthorised clinical practice” by allied health professionals.
In strongly worded statements, the Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA) Sindh and Islamabad-AJK-GB chapters rejected the PMDC’s claims, saying pharmacists had been unfairly and broadly linked to illegal prescribing and quackery without evidence.
The backlash follows a letter issued by the PMDC to the Ministry of National Health Services, in which it raised alarm over pharmacists, psychologists and dental technologists allegedly performing functions reserved for licensed doctors and dentists, including prescribing medicines and making independent clinical decisions.
Pharmacists say the council’s position is not only legally flawed but also risks undermining a recognised and regulated profession that plays a central role in medication safety.
“This is a clear overreach,” a PPA Islamabad representative said, terming the PMDC’s assertions “misleading and legally questionable,” and warning that the association is reviewing legal options, including proceedings against the council for reputational damage.
Both PPA bodies stressed that pharmacy operates under its own legal framework, governed by the Pharmacy Act, 1967, the Drugs Act, 1976 and the DRAP Act, 2012, with oversight by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. They argued that the PMDC has no authority to define or interpret the scope of pharmacy practice.
PPA Sindh said any attempt to do so without reference to existing laws was “fundamentally flawed” and cautioned that such statements create confusion among patients and weaken trust in healthcare systems already under strain.
Pharmacists rejected any suggestion that they are engaged in unsafe or unauthorised clinical roles, saying they are trained and licensed professionals working across hospitals, community pharmacies, regulatory bodies and industry to ensure safe and rational use of medicines.
“Linking pharmacists with unlawful practices without evidence is irresponsible,” a senior PPA office bearer said, adding that the profession routinely works to prevent misuse of medicines and supports safe prescribing practices within healthcare teams.
The associations demanded immediate clarification or withdrawal of the PMDC’s remarks, formal engagement with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and an end to what they described as unilateral statements affecting other licensed professions.
The dispute has once again exposed turf tensions between Pakistan’s fragmented health regulators, where overlapping mandates and weak coordination continue to create confusion on the ground.
Public health experts say concerns about quackery and unsafe practices are valid, particularly in underserved areas where unqualified providers fill gaps in access, but caution that broad brush claims against regulated professions could do more harm than good.
Pharmacists argue that instead of targeting trained professionals, regulators should focus on enforcement failures that allow unqualified practitioners to operate unchecked, contributing to the spread of infections and unsafe treatment practices.
With both sides holding firm positions, the row is likely to move beyond statements, as pharmacists signal legal recourse and demand clearer boundaries between regulators in a system already struggling with gaps in governance and accountability.
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