Pharmacy

Every physical person or legal entity is eligible to register the pharmacy, provided that the Pharmacy Board is satisfied that the following criteria are met:

• The applicant is a registered pharmacist in the Republic of Cyprus (in case of natural person); or
• The company is under the management and control of a registered pharmacist in the Republic of Cyprus who owns at least 51% of the company΄s shares (in the case of a legal entity);
• The pharmacy must be housed in an independent shop which complies with the provisions of the Streets and Buildings Law and not connected with an internal door or by any manner or means, or have optical contact with adjoining store or business or other premises which is not a pharmacy pursuant to the Standards, Establishment and Operation Pharmacy Regulations, Regulatory Administrative Acts 281/2000;
• The pharmacy has the necessary facilities and arrangements for the easy accessibility for persons with disabilities, in accordance with the Standards, Establishment and Operation Pharmacy Regulations, Regulatory Administrative Acts 161/2019.

The Application for a New Pharmacy from a Pharmacist (In case of natural person) or the Application for a New Pharmacy as a Company (in case of legal entity) can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus ) or by contacting the competent authority directly:

Registrar, Pharmacy Board
Pharmaceutical Services
1475 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel.: +357 22 608 637 / +357 22 608 684
Fax : +357 22 608 793
Email: phscentral@phs.moh.gov.cy, mpapaioannou@phs.moh.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moh.gov.cy/phs

1. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

   • Copy of Declaration of a Pharmacist Owner (in case of natural person) or the Pharmacist who owns at least 51% of the company΄s shares (in the case of a legal entity);
   • Copy of Certificate of Registration of the Pharmacist;
   • Copy of Rental Agreement (stamped) or Immovable Property Registration Certificate;
   • Copy of Architectural Plan (overview), for which the building licence was issued;
   • Copy of Building Licence;
   • Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association (certified by the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver);
   • Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (in case of legal entity);
   • Copy of Certificate of Shareholders (in case of legal entity);
   • Copy of Directors and Secretary certificate (in case of legal entity).

There no fees applicable.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Registered Pharmacies are obliged to comply with the provisions of the relevant Law and Regulations, as periodically amended.

Registered pharmacists are obliged to comply with the provisions of the following laws as well as the relevant secondary legislation issued on the basis of them, as those apply/are in force at any given period of time, to the extent which those relate to/concern the practicing of the Pharmacy profession:

• The Pharmacy and Poisons Law (Cap. 254);
• The Medicinal Products for Human Use (Quality, Supply and Price Control) Law of 2001 (70 (I) / 2001);
• The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law of 1977 (29 (I) / 1977),
• The Pharmacists (Associations, Discipline and Pensions Fund) Law of 1972 (39 (I) / 1972).

Among other, they have the following obligations:

1. Operating a pharmacy according to the regulations Regulatory Administrative Act 281/2000 on Specifications for Establishment and Operation of Pharmacies & New Regulatory Administrative Act 161/2019;
2. Book-keeping (prescription register, controlled medicines (narcotics), purchases, duplicates of receipts);
3. Supply of prescription-only/controlled medicines only in accordance with a Doctor’s prescription;
4. Selling only medicinal products which have a marketing authorization in the Republic of Cyprus);
5. Sale of medicinal products at the price specified in the annual Price List issued by the Pharmaceutical Services, price must be stated on all products, check of the expiry date of medicines;
6. Full-day opening and on-call service according to the Pharmacy Board’s Notification.

Important: Only pharmacists employed in registered pharmacies are permitted to dispense prescriptions and to sell or supply medicinal products to any persons.

Competent Authority Supervision

Pharmacy Board: The Competent authority on Pharmacy issues.

The Registrar removes a registered pharmacist from the Pharmacists Register in the following cases:

(a) Due to death;
(b) If the Pharmacy Board finds that his/her name has been erroneously entered in the register, without holding the necessary qualifications and other prerequisites for registration as per the provisions of the Pharmacy and Poisons Law (Cap. 254);
(c) If the Pharmacy Council is satisfied that he/she is not capable, due to a physical or mental illness, to practice the profession safely and competently:

Authorized inspectors from the Minister of Health: inspection of existing and prospective private pharmacies in Cyprus.

Disciplinary Council: Responsible for compliance with the provisions of The Pharmacists (Associations, Discipline and Pensions Fund) law and the provisions of the Pharmacy and Poisons Law (Cap. 254).

A pharmacist is subject to disciplinary prosecution:

• If convicted by a court for an offence involving a lack of honesty or moral obscenity;
• If at the time of practicing the profession showed indecent behavior or behavior incompatible with the pharmacy profession;
• If he/she succeeded in registering as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy and Poisons Law by false or fraudulent actions.