Filenews 21 November 2023
An alarm has been sounded in recent days at the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health after information reached them about fake pharmacy degrees coming from universities in a specific member state of the European Union.
For one case, the Pharmaceutical Services have already contacted the University, which allegedly granted the specific title and the response they received, probably leads to the need to inform the Police, while for the rest of the cases the process is still ongoing.
According to information provided by "F", initially, the Pharmaceutical Services were informed of a case of a pharmacist who, according to those who submitted the relevant complaint, is practicing the profession without having the necessary qualifications. During the investigation of this case, the Ministry of Health received information about diplomas of other pharmacists, who also appear to have studied in this European country, and therefore the investigation was extended.
In all cases, of course, and regardless of the answers given by the Universities involved, the Pharmaceutical Services will also ask for the position of the pharmacists themselves, who will be asked to prove that they have attended the specific course of studies and therefore rightly practice the specific profession.
The issue was also discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Pharmacy Council and therefore the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association is also informed, while important developments are expected at the end of this week.
What has alarmed the authorities the most is the fact that these are people who are already practicing the profession of pharmacist and if it turns out that the diplomas they had submitted in order to obtain the license to practice the profession are of dubious authenticity, a question of public health and safety of citizens will arise at the same time.
