Private medical practitioners who practice within 5 kilometers of a retail pharmacy are not allowed to dispense medication.

The Ministry of Health said there were reports in the past of this happening and the practice must be stopped.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Iliesa Tora said all practices within a 5 kilometer radius of a retail pharmacy should not dispense medication and the only time they can dispense medicine is after hours when pharmacies are closed or for overnight medication only.

Tora said the private doctors should advise their patients to collect the balance of the medication from the nearest pharmacy the next day.

He added that this policy has been relayed to the Fiji College of General Practitioners through a letter from the Minister for Health, Dr Neil Sharma.

He said the dispensing rule is clearly stipulated in the Pharmacy and Poisons Act.

For rural and isolated medical practitioners, they are allowed to dispense medicine if the pharmacy is further than the stipulated 5km distance.

However, they must ensure that the name of the patient, name of the medication and dose quantity dispensed and price charged for the medication is clearly marked on the packets.

The Ministry has advised the members of the public that if they do come across medical practitioners who are not following the rules to raise their complaints with the Consumer Council of Fiji, Prices and Incomes Board and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of the Ministry of Health.