Minister of Health Issues Ministerial Decision on Regulations and Procedures for Pharmacy Licenses in the Private Sector
Kuwait City, Aug 12 (KUNA) -- Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued a ministerial decision today, Wednesday, concerning the regulations and procedures for licensing pharmacies in the private sector and the trading of medicines and medical products therein.
The Ministry of Health stated in a press release that the decision includes a comprehensive regulatory framework for the various stages of licensing and operating private pharmacies, as well as mechanisms for the trading, dispensing, storage, and delivery of medicines. It also organizes the professional and supervisory responsibilities of personnel working in these pharmacies.
The decision sets specific controls for licensing private pharmacies, whether for Kuwaiti pharmacists, cooperative societies, or private hospitals. It stipulates that the validity period of a private pharmacy license is four years, and it regulates the procedures for issuing, renewing, changing the location or area, adding warehouses, temporary or permanent closure, and re-opening of pharmacies, along with the associated requirements, inspections, and approvals from competent authorities.
The decision requires that the distance between a pharmacy applying for a license and the nearest existing pharmacy be at least 1,000 meters in all directions, according to a specified measurement mechanism, with certain sites and facilities exempted as listed in the decision.
It emphasized the technical and health requirements necessary for the preservation and storage of medicines and medical products, including that the temperature inside the pharmacy and its warehouses must not exceed 25 degrees Celsius, and that medicines requiring refrigeration must be stored at temperatures ranging between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.
The ministry noted that the decision obliges the license holder of a pharmacy to appoint a licensed pharmacy manager, who is not permitted to manage more than one pharmacy. It defined the manager’s responsibility for the operation of the pharmacy, the custody of medicines, invoices, prescriptions, records, technical aspects, and staff. Furthermore, it mandated that private pharmacies owned by companies, individuals, cooperative societies, and private hospitals, whose licenses were issued to non-Kuwaiti pharmacists, must appoint at least one Kuwaiti pharmacist holding a valid professional license.
The decision regulated the operation of pharmacies through night shifts and 24-hour opening hours. It specified the essential data that must be present on a medical prescription before dispensing and prohibited the trading, dispensing, or selling of medicines, health products, dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and special foods if the remaining shelf life is less than 30 days.
It confirmed that the decision prohibits the acceptance or return of medicines, health products, dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and special foods after they have been dispensed or sold to the public in private pharmacies. It also required that products displayed or sold be in their original packaging approved for circulation by the competent authority at the Ministry of Health.
The decision included regulations for external advertising on the facades of private pharmacies, requiring prior approval from the competent authority at the Ministry of Health. It also set detailed controls for the disposal of medicines and medical products upon the temporary or permanent closure of a pharmacy. (End) M.N.M / A.M.H
