Pharmacy licence check: how to tell if a medical store is licensed
A pharmacy or medical store in Pakistan needs a drug sale licence from the provincial health department. Ask to see it, check that the name and address match the shop, and look for the signs of a properly run pharmacy: a qualified person in charge, correct storage and printed receipts. Buying from a licensed seller is the single biggest step you can take against fake medicine.
Who licenses pharmacies
Under the Drugs Act, 1976 and the rules made under it, selling medicines requires a licence. Retail sale is regulated by the provinces: provincial health departments issue drug sale licences, and provincial drug inspectors inspect shops, take samples and act against unlicensed sellers. DRAP regulates products, manufacturers, importers and national alerts. Read more in what is DRAP?
What to look for at the counter
| Check | Licensed pharmacy | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Can show a drug sale licence in the shop's name and address | No licence, or one in another name or place |
| Qualified person | A named pharmacist or qualified person is responsible | Nobody can say who is in charge |
| Storage | Cool, shaded shelves; a working fridge for insulin and vaccines | Medicine in direct sun, on the floor, or "cold" items on a shelf |
| Stock | Sealed cartons from known distributors | Loose strips with no box, unknown "imported" brands |
| Prescriptions | Asks for one for prescription-only medicines | Sells antibiotics, sedatives or injections without asking |
| Receipts | Gives a printed or written receipt | Refuses a receipt |
| Prices | At or below the printed MRP | Charges above the printed price, or offers suspicious discounts |
| Scanning | Lets you scan the pack, or scans it for you | Discourages checking |
Reading a drug sale licence
Formats differ between provinces, but a licence normally shows the licence number, the name and address of the premises, the name of the licence holder, the qualified person responsible, the type of licence and its validity dates. Check three things: the address is this shop, the licence has not expired, and the person named exists. You do not need to understand every legal detail; a shop that is properly licensed will usually be happy to show it.
Unlicensed sellers to avoid
- Street stalls and hawkers selling medicines.
- General stores selling prescription medicines alongside groceries.
- Social media pages and WhatsApp numbers with no shop behind them.
- "Doctors" or quacks dispensing unlabelled tablets and injections from their clinic.
- Anyone selling "imported" medicines with no Pakistani registration.
DRAP's alerts in 2025 included crackdowns on unlicensed and unauthorised manufacturers; their products reach patients through exactly these routes.
Online pharmacies
An online pharmacy should be the online face of a licensed pharmacy: business name, full physical address, licence details and a pharmacist you can contact. It should ask for prescriptions where needed and deliver sealed packs with an invoice. See how to buy medicine online safely.
Hospital and clinic pharmacies
Hospital pharmacies are usually well controlled, but private clinics sometimes dispense medicines directly. Ask what you are being given, request the carton or at least the name, strength and batch, and check it as you would any other pack.
How to report an unlicensed or problem pharmacy
- Note the detailsShop name, full address, date, what happened, and the receipt if you have one.
- Report locallyYour provincial drug control department or district drug inspector handles retail licensing and inspections.
- Or report to DRAPDRAP's complaint form has a "pharmacy / medical store related" category and accepts photos.
Mukhtasar
Dawa sirf licensed pharmacy se lein. Dukaan se drug sale licence dikhane ko kahein, dekhein ke naam aur pata dukaan ka hi hai aur licence ki muddat baqi hai. Achhi pharmacy raseed deti hai, fridge wali dawa fridge mein rakhti hai aur aap ko pack scan karne deti hai. Ghair-licensed dukaan ki shikayat zile ke drug inspector ya DRAP ko karein.
A worked example
Bilal's family has used the same corner shop for years, but recently it has started selling medicines from a shelf next to snacks, with no fridge and no receipts. When he asks about insulin, the shopkeeper takes a pen from a cardboard box. Bilal asks to see the drug sale licence; there isn't one on display and the shopkeeper says "it's with the owner". He buys the insulin instead from a pharmacy two streets away, which shows its licence, takes the pen from a fridge and gives a receipt. He later mentions the first shop to the district drug inspector's office. He did not need to be an expert, only to ask the right questions.
Questions you can ask any pharmacy
- "May I see your drug sale licence?"
- "Who is the pharmacist here?"
- "Was this kept in the fridge?" (for insulin, vaccines, some eye drops)
- "Can I scan this pack before I pay?"
- "Can I have a receipt with the batch number?"
A good pharmacy answers these easily. Hesitation, excuses or annoyance tell you something too.
Why licensed pharmacies matter for fake medicine
Licensed pharmacies buy from licensed distributors who keep invoices with batch numbers. When DRAP issues an alert, that paper trail lets stock be traced and removed. Unlicensed sellers usually buy from unknown sources with no records, which is exactly how spurious medicines reach patients. Choosing a licensed pharmacy does not guarantee every pack, but it removes the riskiest supply routes.
Questions people ask
How do I know if a pharmacy is licensed in Pakistan?
Ask to see its drug sale licence, which is issued by the provincial health department. A licensed pharmacy has a fixed address, a qualified person in charge, proper storage including a fridge, and gives receipts. If in doubt, ask your provincial drug control department or district drug inspector.
Who issues pharmacy licences in Pakistan?
Licences to sell medicines at retail are issued by the provincial governments through their health departments and drug control authorities, under the Drugs Act, 1976 and provincial rules.
Can I complain about an unlicensed medical store?
Yes. Report it to your provincial drug control department or district drug inspector, or through DRAP's complaint form, choosing the pharmacy or medical store category, with the shop's name and address.
Is an online pharmacy licensed?
Only if it is run by a licensed pharmacy. Look for the business name, physical address and licence details on its website, and be wary of sellers that only operate through social media.
Medical store ka licence kaise check karein?
Dukaan se drug sale licence dikhane ko kahein. Licence par dukaan ka naam, pata aur zimmedar shakhs ka naam hota hai. Shak ho to apne zile ke drug inspector se raabta karein.
Does a pharmacy need a pharmacist present?
Provincial rules require a qualified person to be responsible for a licensed pharmacy or medical store; the qualification depends on the type of licence. Ask who that person is.
