{
  "id": 11576384,
  "title": "Doctors cannot run drug stores without licence: FCC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/doctors-cannot-run-drug-stores-without-licence-fcc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T02:02:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034360/doctors-cannot-run-drug-stores-without-licence-fcc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that doctors are not exempt from licensing requirements under the Drugs Act 1976 for maintaining a medical store or retail drug outlet. While a doctor can prescribe and dispense medicine to their patients, they cannot operate a pharmacy without proper licensing. This decision overturns a June 5, 2023 order by the Peshawar High Court, which had restrained regulatory action against doctors running medical stores. The FCC emphasized that the Pharmacy Act and Drugs Act serve different legal functions, with the latter requiring a licence for drug sales.",
  "summary": "• Observes Pharmacy Act and Drugs Act perform different legal functions • Sets aside 2023 PHC order restraining regulatory action ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Friday ruled that a registered medical practitioner (doctor) may prescribe and dispense medicine to his own patient within the scope of Section 31(4)(a) of the Pharmacy Act 1967, but cannot maintain a medical store…",
  "key_points": [
    "Doctors not exempt from pharmacy licensing under Drugs Act 1976.",
    "FCC overturns June 5, 2023 Peshawar High Court ruling.",
    "Pharmacy Act and Drugs Act serve different legal functions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The ruling clarifies that doctors, despite being able to prescribe and dispense medicine, must obtain a licence to operate a pharmacy, aligning their obligations with those of non-medical pharmacy operators.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Doctors cannot run drug stores without licence: FCC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/doctors-cannot-run-drug-stores-without-licence-fcc-11580700",
        "published": "2026-10-03T02:02:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}