THE Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) warns consumers of ghost pharmacists in drug stores because it poses a major health risk to them.
PPhA Davao Chapter business manager Sheldon Jay S. Silva, who was a guest in Monday's edition of Davao Press Club's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao Annex, said these are pharmacists whose names are present in the walls of the pharmacy but are not there.
"Sometimes they are just present during audits by the Food and Drug Administration," he said.
Silva said these ghost pharmacists pose a threat to the health of the consumers because there is no licensed pharmacist who will counsel or advice the consumers of the side effects of their medications.
He also said the common practice of many Filipinos buying medicine directly from drug stores without a prescription also poses a threat to the health of consumers.
"Without a proper pharmacist, no one can warn the patients on the uses or side effects of medicines especially those who are taking multiple medicines," Silva said.
He said the association is only able to report and file complaints againts ghost pharmacists in the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), who will revoke the pharmacist's license.
The issue on ghost pharmacies will be one of the main issues that the association will tackle on in the upcoming2014 National Convention of the Philippine Pharmacists Association this April 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center. (RJL)