Pharmacist warned for dispensing generics amid ‘lack of supply’

The pharmacy regulator has issued a warning to a pharmacist who dispensed generic medicines “instead of the prescribed branded versions” to patients amid a "lack of supply".

He “failed to provide person-centred care” by dispensing generics instead of brands (Shutterstock)

Christian Charles Logue, registration number 2046252, has received a warning after he was found to have substituted branded prescription medicines for generic versions of the drugs, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) revealed.

In a hearing on August 18-20, a fitness-to-practise (FtP) committee heard that he “failed to provide person-centred care” by “dispensing generic medicines instead of the prescribed branded versions”.

Read more: Substitutions: DH to launch emergency consultation in ‘summer 2025′

In the case of one patient, he also “[substituted] split halves of different strength tablets from those prescribed to satisfy the dose required”, hearing documents said.

As both the responsible pharmacist and superintendent of the pharmacy at the time, Logue “failed to show leadership...by dealing with the lack of supply of prescribed medication inappropriately”, the committee found.

And it added that “appropriate use of [his] professional judgement would have entailed abiding by the regulations and guidance relating to dispensing prescription-only-medicines (POMs) only in accordance with prescriptions”.

FtP “not impaired”

The regulator, however, was “reassured” that Logue had “implemented changes to [his] practice in order to avoid similar practice in the future”.

It said it had “no concerns” about his “current fitness to practise in any role, including that of independent prescriber (IP)” and found it “not impaired”.

Read more: DH launches policy paper on pharmacist drug substitutions

The GPhC concluded that a warning was “necessary” to uphold professional standards and “ensure public confidence in the profession”.

“This warning will be published in the register and remain in place for 12 months,” it added.

Read the determination in full here.

Molly Bowcott

Read more by Molly Bowcott

Molly Bowcott joined C+D as a digital reporter in October 2024 after graduating from a master’s in journalism at City, University of London. She previously worked as a news reporter at the U.S. Sun, covering business, politics and money.

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