Article IV Section 30 of Republic Act 5921, otherwise known as An Act Regulating the Practice of Pharmacy and Setting Standards of Pharmaceutical Education in the Philippines and for other Purposes, states that:

"No prescription shall be filled or compounded except by a registered pharmacist in the employ of the drugstore or pharmacy. It shall be incumbent upon the pharmacist so compounding or filling the prescription to see to it that every component of the prescription called for meets the standard of purity and quality given in the standard references. Students undergoing pharmaceutical internship may assist said pharmacist in the compounding and dispensing of the prescription called for."

"No prescription shall be refilled except upon express order of the person prescribing."

The law provides that any pharmacist who shall violate this provision shall upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not less than one hundred pesos but not exceeding five hundred pesos or an imprisonment of not less than 30 days but not more than four months in the discretion of the court, as stated in the R.A. 5921.

Therefore, in the interest of public health and safety and to comply with the aforecited provision of law, all licensed drug establishments and outlets are reminded to dispense prescription drugs with correct prescription.

Adopted: 18 Feb. 1999

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PH.D.
Director