Non-pharmacist staff may pick medicines still in blister packs on a pharmacist's instruction, but may not weigh or mix medicines, Japan's health ministry said

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Japan. The ministry notice says that, on a pharmacist's instruction and under the pharmacist's supervision, non-pharmacist staff may gather the required quantity of medicines still in PTP (blister) packaging and count one-dose packs before the pharmacist's check, while non-pharmacists directly weighing or mixing ointments, liquids or powders still violates Article 19 of the Pharmacists Act, even with checks along the way; it adds that this is not meant to discourage active use of dispensing equipment. Japan has no registered technician grade, so this concerns pharmacy support staff.

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A Japanese administrative notice; other countries differ, and it does not measure how the work is done.

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