When can a pharmacist refuse to dispense a medicine? You won't achieve anything in these situations

When we go to a pharmacy to buy a medicine, we don't really think about whether it will be sold to us. This is due to the fact that in most cases there is no problem with it if we have a prescription issued by a doctor. However, it turns out that there may be situations when a pharmacist refuses to dispense a medicine. We translate when he has the right to do so.

When can a pharmacist refuse to dispense a medicine?

A pharmacist has the right to refuse to dispense a medicine to a patient – there is no doubt about it, because it is regulated by law. This may happen, among others, due to: age of the person wanting to buy a given medicine. The West Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Pharmacy reminds that this is in accordance with Art. 71a, section 3. Pharmaceutical Law, which reads as follows:

The pharmacist and pharmaceutical technician refuses to dispense the medicinal product referred to in section 1 or 2, to a person who is under 18 years of age, or if he/she considers that it may be used for non-medical purposes or pose a threat to health and life.

Wojciech Chmielak, vice-president of the West Pomeranian OIA, reminds that paragraphs 1 and 2 refer to OTC products containing pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan and codeine. They are strictly prohibited from being issued to persons under 18 years of age. Regardless of the total amount of active substance contained in the package.

There may also be other reasons for refusing to issue the drug

Additionally, a pharmacy employee also has the right to request a document confirming the age of the person wishing to purchase a given medicine. This, in turn, is regulated by Art. 96.6 of the Pharmaceutical Law, which reads as follows:

“In case of doubts as to the age of the person to whom a medicinal product is issued, in the case of purchasing a medicinal product whose dispensation is age-restricted, the pharmacist and pharmaceutical technician is entitled to request the presentation of a document confirming the person's age. If such a document is not presented, the medicinal product will not be issued.

The President of the West Pomeranian District Pharmaceutical Chamber also reminds that in accordance with Art. 96 section 5., pharmacy employees may also refuse to sell a drug to a person who is over 18 years of age if they are suspicion that a given preparation will be used for non-medical purposes. Such goals may include the patient's desire to become intoxicated with the active substance of the drug. This applies to medicines that are dispensed on the basis of a prescription. A situation where a patient does not receive the medicine he wants to purchase may also occur when this occurs the need to change the composition of the prescription drugfor which the pharmacist or pharmaceutical technician is not authorized. Additionally, the pharmacist may not sell the drug if necessary suspicion as to the authenticity of the prescription.