Two BBC exposé pharmacists to rejoin GPhC register
The regulator has deemed Bita Faizollahi, registration number 2047300, and Ghanshyam Kanji Hirani, registration number 2026341, fit to practise following rehabilitation measures
Two pharmacists who were caught on film supplying antibiotics without a prescription are due to rejoin the professional register, C+D has learned.
Bita Faizollahi, registration number 2047300, and Ghanshyam Kanji Hirani, registration number 2026341, can both return to practice in August following 12-month suspensions by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for illegal medicine supplies made during a BBC investigation.
The investigation by BBC Inside Out, which aired in December 2012, showed patients obtaining prescription-only antibiotics without a prescription from Ms Faizollahi's and Mr Hirani’s pharmacies.
Footage from the BBC showed Mr Hirani “casually” handing a packet of amoxicillin to an undercover reporter “as if it was nothing more than a bar of chocolate”, the GPhC's fitness-to-practise (FTP) committee heard at his review hearing on June 29 this year.
But the GPhC said it had received “a great deal of information” on how Mr Hirani had “set about addressing his rehabilitation” by initiating a programme of mentorship and completing a return-to-practice course. The regulator was satisfied that the measures had resulted in “genuine learning”. It also felt Mr Hirani had “reflected deeply” on his conduct and was “full of shame”.
The GPhC deemed the risk that Mr Hirani would repeat his mistake “acceptably low”, and ruled him fit to practise. His suspension will expire on August 4.
The BBC investigation also showed Ms Faizollahi supervising the sale of amoxicillin without a prescription, the GPhC heard at her review hearing on July 13. A BBC undercover reporter indicated that he wished to buy the 500mg strength of the antibiotic, which was handed to him by the counter assistant after Ms Faizollahi took a packet off the shelf.
Despite Ms Faizollahi continuing to have the “greatest difficulty” in admitting her full misconduct to the GPhC, the regulator said she had “reflected long and hard” on her actions and had “genuinely acknowledged to herself and her colleagues the significance of what she did”.
The FTP committee stressed it had “no doubt” that Ms Faizollahi was a good pharmacist and was confident she would not repeat her misconduct. It ruled her fit to practise and her suspension will expire on August 12.
One other pharmacist remains suspended as a result of the BBC investigation and two have been struck off.
Read the full determination for Ms Faizollahi here.
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