Phantom Pharmacist-in-Charge Offers

The Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy (Board) is reporting that Oklahoma-licensed pharmacists are being approached by out-of-state pharmacies (OSP) asking them to be their pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) for their Oklahoma license, despite the fact that the Oklahoma licensed pharmacists to not actually work at the OSP.

The increased frequency of requests for “phantom” or “absent” PICs is most likely due to the new Oklahoma requirement that non-resident pharmacies that do sterile compounding must have an Oklahoma-licensed PIC. Apparently, the non-resident pharmacies just want a pharmacist with an Oklahoma license to sign its application or renewal in a fraudulent attempt to meet this new legal requirement.

Oklahoma pharmacists should beware as the PIC duties for an Oklahoma licensed pharmacist include accepting the full responsibility of all aspects of the pharmacy’s operation, including:

  1. Responsibility for all controlled and non controlled drugs in the pharmacy;
  2. Supervision of all employees as they relate to the practice of pharmacy;
  3. Establishment of policies and procedure for safe keeping of pharmaceuticals that satisfy Board requirements;
  4. Maintaining a proper record-keeping system for the purchase, sale, delivery, possession, storage and safekeeping of drugs;
  5. Proper display of all licenses;
  6. Annual controlled drug inventory; and
  7. Maintenance of prescription files.
In conclusion, all pharmacists should be aware of similar calls and inform their state boards of pharmacy should they receive any similar suspicious calls.