Each registered pharmacy must have a responsible pharmacist, whose role is to secure the safe and effective running of the registered pharmacy when it is operational.
Every pharmacy owner must appoint a responsible pharmacist, a registered pharmacist who will be in charge of the pharmacy during the period when they are the responsible pharmacist. This is set out in legislation covered by The Medicines Act 1968 and The Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008 .
There are legal requirements for the pharmacy owner and for the person who is the responsible pharmacist. These include:
- displaying a notice in the window of the pharmacy with details of who the responsible pharmacist is (you can download a template notice)
- making and keeping records
- following procedures
- the responsible pharmacist’s absence from the pharmacy