Nepal Pharmacy Council Act 2057: Registration, Education and Discipline
This domain focuses on the Nepal Pharmacy Council Act 2057 (2000), which creates the Council and governs entry to, and discipline within, the pharmacy profession. Exam items test the Council's mandate, registration requirements, ethical duties and the consequences of practising without registration.
Mandate of the Council
- Prescribe minimum standards for pharmacy education and recognise qualifications.
- Inspect and recognise pharmacy colleges and programmes.
- Maintain the register of pharmacists and issue registration certificates.
- Frame a code of ethics and take disciplinary action.
- Advise government on pharmacy matters.
Registration essentials
A candidate must hold a recognised qualification (for example, B.Pharm from a recognised institution), complete the prescribed internship, pay the fee and satisfy any additional conditions. The Council may assess foreign qualifications for equivalence. Registration is personal: it cannot be lent, transferred or used to cover an unqualified dispenser. Renewal and continuing education requirements apply as prescribed by the Council.
Worked example
A graduate with a foreign B.Pharm wants to manage a community pharmacy immediately. Reasoning: the degree must be assessed for equivalence; the Council may require additional training or internship; the person cannot practise or be shown as the responsible pharmacist until registered. Separately, the premises need a DDA retail licence. Registration alone does not license the shop.
Professional conduct
Typical misconduct includes practising while unregistered, allowing unqualified staff to dispense, falsifying records, breaching confidentiality, or dispensing without a prescription where one is required. Sanctions can include warning, suspension or removal from the register. Criminal liability under the Drug Act is not extinguished by Council action.
Traps
Assuming Council registration authorises sale of drugs from any premises; confusing internship completion with registration; thinking foreign registration is automatically valid in Nepal; treating the code of ethics as advisory only.