By Noor Muhammad Mahar
Late at night, a worried patient enters a pharmacy with a simple question: “How should I take this medicine?”
The pharmacist knows the dosage, interactions, side effects and precautions—but a bigger question remains: How far can a pharmacist legally go?
Pharm-D education covers clinical pharmacy, hospital practice, medication counselling and pharmaceutical care. Yet, in many cases, pharmacists remain limited mainly to dispensing medicines.
The issue is not replacing doctors. It is about clearly defining the role of pharmacists according to their education, training and expertise.
Basic services such as blood-pressure and glucose monitoring, first aid, wound care and medication counselling can be regulated through proper standards. Any limited prescribing authority should only come through specialized training, certification, approved medicines, examinations and clear referral protocols.
Likewise, services involving medicines such as Flagyl, insulin administration, vaccination, blood-group testing or prescription medicines should not be treated as unrestricted existing rights. Their inclusion must require specific training and explicit legal authorization.
The real problem is legal ambiguity.
Pharmacy Councils must go beyond registration and certificates. They should establish clear professional standards, scope of practice, responsibilities and accountability mechanisms.
A modern healthcare system does not create competition between doctors and pharmacists. Doctors diagnose and treat; pharmacists ensure medicines are used safely and effectively. The patient benefits when both work within clearly defined boundaries.
If meaningful progress is not made, the Pakistan Drug Lawyer Forum has announced a peaceful nationwide protest in Lahore on September 25, 2026, followed by legal proceedings, including an approach to the Lahore High Court on September 27, if necessary.
This is not a battle against doctors. It is a demand for clarity, professional dignity, patient safety and regulatory accountability.
We do not need more ambiguity. We need clear rules.
We do not need more promises. We need decisions.
Pharmacists do not need unchecked powers—they need a clearly defined, legally protected professional role, and patients deserve the benefit of their expertise.