Nepal Pharmacy Council – NPC

The Nepal Pharmacy Council is hereby established in 2058 order to make effective the pharmacy profession by managing and operating it in a scientific manner and also provide for the registration of names according to the qualification of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants.

History of Pharmacy Council

Nepal Pharmaceutical Association (NPA) has played a pivotal role in the formation of the Nepal Pharmacy Council (NPC). The NPA’s exercise for preparation of the draft of the NPC Act took momentum after implementation of National Drug Policy 1995 (B.S. 2051) that clearly spelled out for the policy strategy (Section 4.4c) aiming to promulgate legislative measures to register pharmacy manpower engaged in the pharmacy profession. The draft prepared by NPA was discussed in the national seminar entitled “Need of Pharmacy Council for the Development of Pharmacy Services in Nepal” on 10 April 1997 (28 Chaitra 2053) on the auspicious occasion of NPA’s silver jubilee. The draft recommended by the seminar was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Population for further action. It was circulated to various organizations for their views and support. The draft received final approval of the Ministry of Health and Population only after NPA Executive board delegation has several rounds of discussion with the then Health Minister. Based on these discussions NPA submitted a justification document for the NPC Act, the summary points of which as reported by the Gorkha Patra on 2 Shrawan 2057 were:

National Drug Policy was in favor of a legislative measure for registration of pharmacy manpower engaged in the pharmaceutical field.
The draft NPC document was recommended by the national seminar.
The theme carried by the document was oriented to community welfare and pharmacy service development.
The situation in other countries favored the specific legislative measures on pharmacy education and service standard.
Broad base nature of the profession encompassing policy, manpower development and regulation, inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination for public health, quality assurance, logistic and supply management, information and rational use, and other specific sub-disciplines like community and social, hospital, industrial pharmacy aspects.
Health Professional Council Act 1997 did make NPA’s representation in its council but the measures were not sufficient enough for pharmacy discipline.
Promotion by WHO document on Pharmacy Council (Pharm/94 272 1994).
Availability of example of separate pharmacy council legislation of which references of Act of India, Singapore, Canada, UK, Denmark, Jamika, Namibia were provided.
In addition to these efforts, NPA defended and clarified queries raised by different ministries, council, and other organizations on various aspects of draft NPC Act throughout the period between B.S.2054 until the Act was finally approved by the Parliament in 2000 (B.S. 2057) and enacted from January 2001.

Nepal Pharmacy Council is autonomous body.

Formation of Nepal Pharmacy Council:

The Council established pursuant to Section 3 shall consist of the members as follows:

A person nominated by the Government of Nepal from amongst the pharmacists who, having obtained at least bachelor degree in pharmacy, have acquired least ten years of experience in pharmacy profession –Chairperson
A pharmacist nominated by the Government of Nepal from amongst the senior pharmacist teachers in the educational institutions teaching pharmacy subject -Member
Chairperson, Nepal Pharmaceuticals Association -Member
Two pharmacists nominated by the Government of Nepal from amongst the renowned pharmacists engaged in the production, sale and distribution of drugs -Member
One person nominated by the Government of Nepal from amongst the chiefs of the professional organizations of pharmacists registered pursuant to the prevailing law -Member
Two senior pharmacists including one woman person nominated by the Government of Nepal, on recommendation of the Council -Member
The Drug Administrator as referred to in the Drugs Act, 2034(1978) -Member
Registrar -Secretary

Functions, duties and powers of Nepal Pharmaacy Council:

The functions, duties and powers of the Council shall be as follows:

To prepare such policies, plans and programs as may be required to operate the pharmacy business in a managed and systematic manner and implement these policies.
To give recognition to educational institutes teaching the pharmacy profession and the certificates granted by such institutes.
To require details of the curricula, terms of admission, examination system of the educational institute teaching the pharmacy profession and other necessary details as to whether such institute has maintained the fixed standards; and, by fulfilling the procedures as prescribed, to withdraw recognition granted to the certificate and degree granted by the educational institute failing to maintain the standards.
To fix qualifications required to carry on pharmacy profession, enter the name of a pharmacist and pharmacy assistant having possessed the fixed qualification in the register of the Council, as prescribed.
By fulfilling the procedures as prescribed, to delete from the register the name of a registered pharmacist and pharmacy assistant who violates or fails to observe the prescribed professional code of conduct.

Some definitions given by Nepal Pharmacy Council

“Pharmacist” means a person having obtained at least bachelor’s degree in pharmacy or qualification equivalent thereto from a recognized educational institute.

“Pharmacy Assistant” means a person having obtained at least certificate degree in pharmacy or qualification equivalent thereto from a recognized educational institute.

“Pharmacy Profession” means a business of production of drugs, quality control of drugs, inspection and recommendation of drugs factories, selection of methods for storage and supply of manufactured drugs, supervision of supplies, registration of drugs and certification that a drug is useful, qualitative, efficacious and safe for consumption and this term also includes hospital pharmacy.

“Registered Pharmacist” means a pharmacist whose name is registered in the register.
“Registered Pharmacist Assistant” means a pharmacist assistant whose name is registered in the register.

Nepal Pharmacy Council Registered Manpower

Total Registered Pharmacist assistants: 14507
Total Registered Pharmacist: 7430

Address:Swet Vinayak Marg, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone Number: +977014780747
Email Id: npc@nepalpharmacycouncil.org.np
Website: www.nepalpharmacycouncil.org.np