Date of Decision: March 21, 2023
Allegations: The pharmacist was convicted at York Crown Court on 12 May 2022 of the following offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
Supplying diazepam (Class C controlled drug) between January 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying zopiclone (Class C controlled drug) between January 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying zolpidem (Class C controlled drug) between February 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying nitrazepam (Class C controlled drug) between May 2014 and April 2016.
The pharmacist operated as a wholesaler of controlled drugs but did not hold the necessary Home Office Controlled Drugs Licence (HOCDL).
He continued supplying controlled drugs despite knowing he lacked the required licensing, making over 70,000 boxes (almost 2 million tablets) of Class C controlled drugs available on the market.
Outcome: A 12-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: April 14, 2023
Allegations: On 13 September 2021, the pharmacist was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of:
Fraud by abuse of position, contrary to sections 1 and 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Being concerned in supplying a controlled drug (Class B) contrary to section 4(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The pharmacist supplied over 2,000 bottles of codeine linctus and Phenergan over a period of more than a year.
Initially, the pharmacist refused sales but later complied after being coerced and threatened by a group of men who:
Threatened harm to him and his family.
Showed him weapons and warned that his family was under surveillance.
After the employer confronted him about excessive stock orders, the pharmacist initially claimed the sales were legitimate before later admitting to being coerced.
The pharmacist was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (suspended for 18 months) and 200 hours of community service.
Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register
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Date of Decision: April 6, 2023
Allegations: As the Superintendent Pharmacist (SI) at SQ Invest Ltd, which operated an online pharmacy, the registrant:
Failed to implement proper identity verification procedures for patients ordering medicines online.
Allowed patients to select high-risk medicines, strengths, and quantities before consultations.
Supplied opioids (codeine, dihydrocodeine) and sleeping aids (zopiclone, zimovane) without verifying GP approval.
Allowed medicines to be supplied solely based on a self-completed online questionnaire.
Did not conduct audits on prescribing practices or refusals, increasing the risk of inappropriate supplies.
Used prescribers based in Romania but did not ensure they were following UK guidelines or properly registered.
Did not have proper indemnity insurance for the prescribing services provided.
Outcome: A nine-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: April 7, 2021
Allegations: Between January 2017 and June 2018, the pharmacy technician removed codeine phosphate tablets from the hospital pharmacy for personal use.
To facilitate this, she created false patient records, showing that codeine had been dispensed to patients when it had not.
The pharmacy technician acted dishonestly, knowing that:
She did not have authority to remove the codeine.
The records were falsified to cover up her actions.
Outcome: A six-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: February 2, 2021
Allegations: The pharmacist was removed from the GPhC register on 16 June 2015 due to dishonesty in fitness to practise declarations.
When applying for directorship of a new pharmacy company in 2014, he:
Falsely answered “no” to questions about past criminal convictions and fitness to practise investigations.
Failed to disclose that he had two criminal convictions under the Medicines Act (for improper dispensing and sale of prescription-only medicines).
Withheld information about past regulatory investigations, including five prior fitness to practise investigations, three reprimands, and one warning.
Had previously been reprimanded in 2007 for failing to disclose criminal convictions when applying for NHS contracts.
The 2015 committee found his actions were deliberately dishonest and incompatible with registration.
In June 2020, the pharmacist applied for restoration to the register, arguing that he had developed insight and remorse over the past five years.
Outcome: The application for restoration was refused
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Date of Decision: May 25, 2021
Allegations: Between 1 and 15 October 2018, while working as a pharmacist at Rowlands Pharmacy (Overton, Wales), the registrant:
Administered the incorrect flu vaccine to patients 75 years and older, contrary to the Patient Group Directive (PGD).
Administered the wrong vaccine to patients 65 years and older, some of whom were in clinical risk groups.
Falsified records by documenting that patients had received the Fluad vaccine when, in reality, they had been given the Quadrivalent vaccine.
Acted dishonestly, as he knew:
The incorrect vaccine was administered.
The PGD required Fluad, not Quadrivalent, for certain age groups.
Failed to obtain emergency contact details from some patients who received the Quadrivalent vaccine.
Outcome: A two-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: June 8, 2023
Allegations: The pharmacist ordered and removed four bottles of codeine linctus from two separate pharmacies (Tuebrook Pharmacy and Upton Rocks Pharmacy) on 27 and 28 October 2020 without making payment.
The GPhC alleged dishonesty, stating that he:
Took the codeine linctus without permission from the owner.
Knew he did not have permission to take it.
Knew he had not paid for it.
The pharmacist denied dishonesty, stating he was under stress and unable to recall whether he had paid.
Outcome: A four-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: January 13, 2021
Allegations: On 18 July 2018, the pharmacy technician submitted a falsified Certificate of Fitness (EPP) to a recruitment agency (Your World Recruitment).
The document purported to be issued by Healthier Business UK Ltd but was not genuine.
The technician admitted submitting the document but denied dishonesty, claiming she acted under coercion and pressure from someone else.
The GPhC found that her actions were dishonest, as she knew the certificate was false and intended to mislead others.
Outcome: A formal warning was issued
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Date of Decision: November 5, 2020
Allegations: The pharmacist made a series of public statements at the Al Quds Day rally on 18 June 2017, which were considered offensive and alleged to be anti-Semitic.
The specific statements included:
Referring to Zionists as having certain "genes" and a "genetic code".
Claiming "Zionists are not Jews".
Stating that "any Zionist or Jew supporting Israel" is "not a real Rabbi but an imposter".
Accusing "Zionist supporters of the Tory Party" of being "responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell".
The GPhC alleged that these statements were anti-Semitic and offensive, harming public confidence in the pharmacy profession.
Outcome: A formal warning was issued.
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Date of Decision: July 23, 2015
Allegations: The pharmacy technician received a police caution for obtaining leave to remain in the UK by deception.
The deception involved submitting false documents to artificially inflate his income to meet immigration requirements.
He failed to disclose this caution to the GPhC within seven days, as required.
When completing his 2014 GPhC registration renewal, he falsely declared that he had not received a caution or conviction.
The GPhC found his actions dishonest, both in misleading UK Border Agency (UKBA) and in making false declarations to his professional regulator.
Outcome: Removal from the register
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