The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has suspended three pharmacists implicated in BBC London's Inside Out investigation into the alleged illegal sale of prescription medicines.
Chawan Shaida (registration number 2051633) of Bin-Seena Pharmacy in Westminster, Hussain Jamal Rasool (registration number 2068258) of Al Farabi Pharmacy, Westminster, and Murtaza Gulamhusein (registration number 2029954) of Curie Chemists, Westminster, have each been given 18-month interim suspension orders, the GPhC announced today (January 17).
The GPhC said it was continuing to investigate the other pharmacists implicated in the programme |
![]() More on the BBC exposé
|
Explaining that interim orders were held in private, the regulator said: "The fitness-to-practise committee does not make decisions on the facts of the allegations in these hearings, but instead considers if it is necessary for the protection of the public, in the public interest, or in the interests of the pharmacy professional concerned to make an interim order for suspension from the register, or impose conditions on the pharmacy professional's registration, during the investigation and before a full fitness-to-practise hearing." |
The GPhC added that it was "liaising closely with the police and MHRA and investigations into the allegations raised are ongoing".
It told C+D it was continuing to investigate the other pharmacists implicated in the programme, aired a month ago (December 17), which accused nine pharmacies in west London of selling prescription medicines including diazepam without prescription.
C+D understands that the BBC may broadcast news of the three suspensions on BBC News London tonight (January 17) at 6.30pm.
At the time of the BBC exposé, C+D readers condemned the pharmacists implicated, saying they did not represent the majority of the profession.
What do you make of the GPhC's move? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook |