Pharmacist Struck Off for Large-Scale Unlawful Supply of Controlled Drugs

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee investigated a pharmacist following his conviction at Southwark Crown Court for the large-scale unlawful supply and wholesale distribution of controlled drugs.

Between 2013 and 2015, the registrant supplied nearly 28 million Class C controlled drug tablets (Diazepam and Zopiclone) outside the regulated supply chain. The court found this posed a serious risk to public safety and was conducted for financial gain.

Findings

The Fitness to Practise Committee reviewed the case and found that Nasr:

1. Knowingly supplied vast quantities of controlled drugs without proper safeguards.
2. Engaged in wholesale distribution without a dealer’s licence.
3. Attempted to shift blame onto employees during sentencing.
4. Showed limited insight into the seriousness of his actions.

The Committee determined that:

“The scale of this supply operation, outside the legitimate regulatory framework, demonstrates a complete disregard for public safety.”

Additionally, the court remarked:

“So, this is a deliberate avoidance of the right way of doing it through greed.”

The registrant did not engage with the GPhC hearing, providing no new evidence or statements beyond documents used in his sentencing.

GPhC Determination on Impairment

The GPhC ruled that the pharmacist’s fitness to practise was impaired, citing:

• A real risk to patients and the public.
• A serious breach of trust and professional responsibility.
• A failure to demonstrate genuine remorse or rehabilitation.

The committee concluded:

“The conviction is so serious that any outcome other than removal would undermine public confidence in the profession.”

Sanction

The Committee weighed all available sanctions and determined that removal from the GPhC register was the only proportionate response.

• Aggravating Factors:
  • Scale of the drug supply (nearly 28 million tablets).
  • Length of the criminal activity (two years).
  • Financial motivation for bypassing the regulatory system.
  • Potential harm to the public from unregulated supply.
  • Failure to demonstrate insight or remediation.
• Mitigating Factors:
  • Cooperated with police and pleaded guilty at first opportunity.
  • Provided some character references (but many were from family and did not address public safety concerns).

The Committee ruled that:

“This case involves the illegal supply of controlled drugs on such a scale that even the maximum period of suspension would be insufficient. The only suitable sanction is removal from the register.”

A suspension order, even for 12 months, was deemed inappropriate, as it would fail to maintain public confidence in the profession.

Key Learning Points for Pharmacy Professionals

This case highlights critical lessons regarding regulatory compliance, professional ethics, and patient safety.

1. Unlawful Supply of Medicines Has Serious Consequences
   • Pharmacists must follow all regulatory frameworks when dealing with controlled drugs.
   • Ignoring licensing requirements can lead to criminal prosecution and removal from the register.
2. Professional Integrity Must Be Maintained at All Times
   • Large-scale breaches of public trust can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
   • The court and GPhC were clear that financial gain does not justify regulatory misconduct.
3. Demonstrating Insight and Remediation Can Impact Sanctions
   • Nasr failed to provide any meaningful evidence of insight or remediation.
   • Engaging with fitness to practise proceedings is crucial for mitigating penalties.
4. The Scale of Misconduct Determines the Severity of the Sanction
   • Cases involving public safety risks, large-scale supply, or financial motivation are treated with the highest seriousness.
   • Even a suspended prison sentence was sufficient grounds for removal from the register.

Conclusion

This case serves as a stark reminder that pharmacy professionals must uphold the highest standards of regulatory compliance.

By bypassing controlled drug regulations for personal financial gain, Nasr not only committed serious criminal offences but also undermined public confidence in the pharmacy profession.

His removal from the register underscores the GPhC’s commitment to protecting public safety and maintaining the integrity of the profession.