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A pharmacist who in July 2023 made a supervised buprenorphine supply without first checking it was for the correct patient has been given a warning by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

On July 28, the GPhC’s fitness to practise committee issued the warning to Mohammad Zullfiqar Ali after finding that he had breached three professional standards by failing to adhere to the standard operation procedure for supplies of the drug.

The FtP committee said: “Before dispensing and supervising the consumption of a CD prescription for buprenorphine 12mg tablets, a Schedule 3 CD, you did not carry out sufficient checks to ascertain that the person collecting the medication was the correct patient.

“Your conduct was unacceptable and fell below the standard expected from a registered pharmacy professional.

“Your actions brought the profession of pharmacy into disrepute and breached some of the fundamental principles of the pharmacy profession.”

The committee also noted that Mr Ali had failed to engage with the FtP process “in any meaningful way” and was neither present nor represented at the videolink hearing.

However, it took into account the fact that the case involved a single error three years ago and that “no further similar concerns” have been raised about his practice since then.

It told Mr Ali that a warning was needed “to stand as a reminder to you and to other pharmacy professionals of the importance of complying with the standards required of pharmacy professionals at all times”.

The committee said “failing to do so may negatively affect the reputation of pharmacy professionals and must not be repeated,” adding that the warning “is also a reminder to you to ensure that you follow the appropriate SOPs wherever you are working and that you familiarise yourself fully with all relevant guidance so that you meet the standards expected of pharmacy professionals to ensure the safe and effective provision of pharmacy services”.

The warning will appear on his register entry until July 28 next year.

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