The community pharmacy landscape, governed by regulations and overseen by institutions, faces a concerning trend: the exploitation of pharmacists through a cycle of recruitment, license renewal, and abrupt termination. This article delves into the complexities surrounding this malpractice, despite existing regulations and the presence of governing bodies. By highlighting these unethical practices, it aims to raise awareness and promote the need for stricter adherence to professional ethics and regulations within the pharmacy sector.

Community pharmacies play a pivotal role in healthcare delivery, yet a distressing pattern has emerged involving the exploitation of pharmacists. Some pharmacy bosses resort to a practice wherein pharmacists are recruited specifically to fulfill licensing requirements, only to be dismissed shortly after the license renewal. Despite the presence of regulatory bodies and professional associations, such malpractices persist, raising concerns about the ethical conduct within the industry.

1. Recruitment with Intent:
Certain pharmacy bosses exploit licensing regulations, recruiting pharmacists primarily to fulfill staffing requirements during license renewal evaluations. This practice overlooks the ethical obligation of providing stable employment and professional growth (Vogler et al., 2014).
2. Immediate Termination Post-Licensing:
Once the license renewal process is completed, pharmacists recruited for this specific purpose face abrupt dismissal. This cycle perpetuates job insecurity, impacting the professional stability and mental well-being of pharmacists (Häggman-Laitila et al., 2021).

1. Regulatory Bodies and Oversight:
Despite the presence of regulatory institutions like pharmacy councils, the FDA, unions, and professional associations, the enforcement of stringent measures to prevent such exploitative practices remains challenging (Krska et al., 2019).
2. Lack of Ethical Compliance:
The perpetuation of this cycle raises questions about the ethical standards upheld by some pharmacy employers. It highlights the need for a stronger emphasis on ethical conduct and adherence to professional standards within the pharmacy sector (Cipolle et al., 2012).

1. Enforcement of Stricter Regulations:
Regulatory bodies need to enact and enforce stricter regulations that deter such exploitative practices. Measures ensuring fair employment practices and penalties for unethical behavior should be implemented and rigorously monitored (Kernaghan, 2020).
2. Promoting Ethical Training:
Pharmacist education should include ethical training modules emphasizing professional conduct, ethical obligations, and the importance of fair employment practices within the pharmacy setting (Guerra et al., 2017).

• Unmasking the Rise of Malpractice in Community Pharmacies: A Critical Examination of Unethical Hiring Practices
• A Comparative Analysis of African Community Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice against Global Standards and Overcoming Challenges for Full Implementation

The alarming trend of recruiting pharmacists solely for license renewals, followed by their abrupt dismissal, highlights a concerning lapse in ethical conduct within community pharmacies. Despite the presence of regulatory bodies and professional associations, this malpractice persists, impacting the job security and well-being of pharmacists. Stricter regulations, ethical training, and a collective commitment to upholding professional standards are imperative to curtail and eradicate such unethical practices within the pharmacy sector.

• Cipolle, R. J., Strand, L. M., & Morley, P. C. (2012). Pharmaceutical care practice: The clinician’s guide. McGraw Hill Professional.

• Guerra, C. M., Souza, J. P., & Ottoboni, G. B. (2017). Teaching ethics and professionalism in pharmacy education. F1000Research, 6, 175. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.10064.1

• Häggman-Laitila, A., Laitila, T., & Airaksinen, M. (2021). Pharmacists’ attitudes towards whistleblowing in the community pharmacy context: A qualitative study. Pharmacy Practice, 19(1), 2307. https://doi.org/10.18549/pharmpract.2021.1.2307

• Kernaghan, S. (2020). Examining the effectiveness of ethics training: Implications for pharmacy practice. Pharmacy Education, 20(1), 123–132. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.201.123132

• Krska, J., Mackridge, A., Bhattacharya, B., Atef Shebl, N., & Katusiime, B. (2019). Williams et al. ‘We have to put the pharmacist at the front line…’ A case study of the medicines use review (MUR) service in the English community pharmacy. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15(6), 654–662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.07.004

• Vogler, S., Vitry, A., & Babar, Z. U. (2014). Overcoming challenges to market access of generic medicines in the European Union: The case of generic medicines’ non-bioequivalence related concerns. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal, 3(2), 58–63. https://doi.org/10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.017