Section 12, The Pharmacy and Drugs Act, 2001

(1) Where a complaint is made to the Registrar, or the Registrar has reason to believe, that any of the following events has occurred in relation to a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or to any person engaged in pharmacy business namely— (a) that he has committed an offence under this Act; or (b) that he has been accused of professional misconduct, the Registrar shall take such steps as are practicable to verify the occurrence; and if in his opinion there is cause for an inquiry by the Disciplinary Committee, he shall serve a notice to that effect on the pharmacist, pharmacy technician or the person engaged in pharmacy business and invite him to furnish in writing within six weeks from the date of the notice such explanation as he may desire to make. 10 No. 12 Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 (2) Where the Registrar has served notice on a person under subsection (1) , he shall lay a copy of the notice together with any explanation furnished by the pharmacist, pharmacy technician or person engaged in pharmacy business and all other relevant documents, before the Disciplinary Committee. (3) If the Disciplinary Committee, after considering the explanation (if any) furnished by the person, is also of the opinion that there is cause for an inquiry, it shall order an inquiry to be held. (4) If the Disciplinary Committee, after an inquiry under this section is satisfied that an event specified in subsection (1) and alleged against the pharmacist, pharmacy technician or person engaged in pharmacy business has occurred it may make any one or more of the following recommendations to the Pharmacy Board: (a) that the pharmacist, pharmacy technician or person engaged in pharmacy business be reprimanded by the Board; (b) that the pharmacist, pharmacy technician, or person engaged in pharmacy business be required to pay to the Board a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand Leones; (c) that the certificate of registration of the pharmacist, pharmacy technician or person engaged in pharmacy business or licence of the body corporate be cancelled and premises closed. (5) The Disciplinary Committee may also recommend that any party to the proceedings at the inquiry be ordered by the Board to pay the whole or part of the costs of any other party. (6) On receiving a recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee under this section, the Board may, by order, implement the recommendation or remit the recommendation to the Disciplinary Committee for further consideration. No. 12 Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 11 (7) Where a notice under subsection (1) has been served on a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, or person engaged in pharmacy business, the Board may order that the certificate of registration of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician be suspended, until the conclusion of the proceedings against him. [Margin: Cancellation and suspension of registration.]