South Dakota News: Provisions for Pharmacist Absence

January 1, 2006 4:13 pm Topics: Pharmacies

Published in the January 2006 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

Pharmacist owners have been given authority by regulations to be temporarily absent from their pharmacy without closing the entire store (ARSD 20:51:06:10). Temporary absence is a short absence of no more than one to two hours. The absence can be for eating; banking; visiting nursing homes, or hospitals; or any legitimate personal business.

It has become more frequent for store owners to leave their pharmacy and store open for extended periods without a pharmacist present. The Board inspectors have been instructed to identify such operations and to instruct the pharmacist owner that they have two options:

• It shall not be considered a violation of the state pharmacy law if public entrances to general merchandise areas are kept open for the transaction of business without a pharmacist on duty in a pharmacy provided all entrances to the “restricted area” and “pharmacy department” are closed for the transaction of business when no pharmacist is on duty, and a sign bearing the words “pharmacy services closed” is posted at public entrances by the pharmacist permittee before leaving the premises.
• If the pharmacist owner wishes to leave for more than one to two hours, the pharmacist permittee shall secure the prescription department and restricted floor area by a partition or wall not less than ⅜-inch thick extending from the floor to the permanent ceiling that will isolate the prescription department and restricted drug area from any unrestricted floor areas where general merchandise is offered for sale.

The Board is giving notice to pharmacists to be compliant with this regulation (ARSD 20:51:06:10). If your business is in violation of this regulation, the Board will expect compliance by September 30, 2006, before taking action. If you have any questions, please contact the Board office.