Minister of Health Issues Decision on Regulations and Procedures for Pharmacy Licenses in the Private Sector - Sarmad
• Return of medicines and health products is not permitted after sale
(KUNA) – Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued a ministerial decision today, Wednesday, regarding the regulations and procedures for pharmacy licenses 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, alongside the organization of professional and supervisory responsibilities for those working in them.
It clarified that the decision sets specific controls for licensing private pharmacies, whether for Kuwaiti pharmacists, cooperative societies, or private hospitals. It also specified that the validity period of a private pharmacy license is four years, and organized procedures for issuing, renewing, changing the location or area, adding warehouses, temporary or permanent closure, and re-opening the pharmacy, along with related requirements, inspections, and approvals from competent authorities.
The Ministry added that the decision stipulates that the distance between a pharmacy applying for a license and the nearest pharmacy must be at least 1,000 meters in all directions, according to a specific measurement mechanism, with exceptions for certain sites and facilities mentioned in the decision.
It pointed out that the decision emphasized the technical and health requirements necessary for the preservation and storage of medicines and medical products, including that the temperature of 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 stated that the decision obliged the license holder of a pharmacy to appoint a licensed pharmacy manager, who is not permitted to manage more than one pharmacy. It defined his responsibility for the operation of the pharmacy, the custody of medicines, invoices, prescriptions, records, technical aspects, and pharmacy staff. It also obliged pharmacies owned by companies, individuals, cooperative societies, and private hospitals, whose licenses were issued to non-Kuwaiti pharmacists, to appoint at least one Kuwaiti pharmacist holding a license to practice the profession.
It noted that the decision regulated the operation of pharmacies through night shifts and 24-hour opening, and specified the basic data that must be present in a medical prescription before dispensing. It prohibited the trading, dispensing, or selling of medicines, health products, dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and special foods if the remaining validity period is less than 30 days.
It affirmed that the decision stipulates that pharmacies are not permitted to accept or return medicines, health products, dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and special foods after they have been dispensed or sold to the public. It also required that products displayed or sold be in their original packaging approved for circulation by the competent authority within the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry mentioned that the decision included regulations for external advertising on the facades of private pharmacies, requiring prior approval from the competent authority within the Ministry of Health. It also set detailed controls for the settlement of the custody of medicines and medical products in the event of temporary or permanent closure of the pharmacy.
