Training of staff manning the retail pharmacy
It is essential that the staff in the retail outlets be provided with proper training on storage issues.

Documentation

a) Documentation is an important component of Good Storage Practices (GSPs). The written word creates confidence in what we do.

b) The retail outlets should maintain records of temperature and humidity in the outlet, in the refrigerator and in the freezer compartment on a daily basis. One can use calibrated glass or digital thermometers, which may be read manually. Data loggers are also available now a days, which automatically record temperature and RH; and the imformation can be downloaded even on a PC.

c) Retail outlets should maintain records of breakdowns, repairs and maintenance work done on all the equipment(s) used for maintaining storage conditions. Equipment(s) used to measure temperature and humidity should be calibrated periodically and records maintained in support

d) The pharmacist should authenticate records as above. Such records should be available for inspection by the authorised regulatory authorities.

e) The pharmacist or person in charge of the retail outlet should maintain records of Continuing Education programs attended. These could be on the-job training programs or special programs conducted by manufacturers, industry associations or other institutions. These could also be in-house training programs conducted by the registered pharmacist for the assistants and other staff working in the retail outlet. The relevant certificate for having attended such programs or documentation is support of having conducted in-house training programs should be retained.

Glossary of terms
Community Pharmacy
The area of pharmacy practice in which medicines and other related products are sold or provided directly to the public from a retail outlet designed primarily for the purpose of providing medicines. The sale or provision of the medicine may be either on the order or prescription of a doctor or "over the counter" by the pharmacist.

Pharmacy
See Community Pharmacy.

Registered Pharmacist
A person whose name is for the time being entered in the register of pharmacists of the State in which he is for the time being residing or carrying on his profession or business of pharmacy.

Retail outlet
A premises duly licensed by the licensing authority under the provisions of Rules 64, 65 and 66 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to store, sell and distribute drugs. The description "Drug Store", "Chemists and Druggists", "Pharmacy", "Pharmacist", "Dispensing Chemist" or "Pharmaceutical Chemist" shall be displayed on the premises in accordance with Rule 65(15)(a) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Summary

India is a tropical country and several places in the country are very hot and/or humid and at times with an intense light. Pharmaceutical products sometimes cannot remain stable in such conditions unless the labelled storage conditions on the products are adhered to. Accordingly, it becomes the duty of everybody in the distribution chain to respect the storage conditions. The pharmacist in a pharmacy has the specific responsibility in this regard as the retention time of the products in his establishment is fairly long.

A guidance document for helping the community pharmacist to recognise the importance of proper storage practices and implementing the same, has been prepared for adoption.