The Pharmacy Council of Jamaica (PCJ) was established in August 1975 by the Ministry of Health, under the Pharmacy Act of 1966. The Council’s primary responsibilities include regulating pharmacists, pharmaceutical students, pharmacy owners, and authorized sellers of poisons. Additionally, the Council maintains registers for all these individuals and sets standards for pharmacists’ education, scopes of practice, and professional conduct. It also sets and maintains standards for pharmacy establishment and operations.
Council Composition and Functions
The Council is composed of ten (10) members. Six members are elected by the professional body, the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ), and four members, including the Chairman, are appointed by the Minister of Health and Wellness. The Minister’s appointees often come from consumer groups, the pharmaceutical distributive sector, other healthcare disciplines, the legal profession or the regulatory framework. The Chairman is selected by the Minister.
The Council employs a Registrar, who also serves as the Secretary to the Council, as well as Inspectors and other officers necessary for fulfilling the provisions of the Pharmacy Act.
The members of the Council are:
Dr. Ernestine Watson – Chairman
Ms. Donna Brown
Dr. Lisa Bromfield
Mr. Hughroy Thomas
Dr. Michelle Russell
Mr. Rohan McNellie
Dr. Tyrone Smith
Dr. Diane Newman-McKenzie
Mr. Janeek Forbes
Mr. Mark Law
The current Council was appointed to serve for three (3) years between 2023 – 2026
Meetings and Operations
The Council is required to meet at least once every three months. However, to address the needs of the rapidly expanding pharmaceutical industry, the Council meets monthly, except in August and December. This frequent meeting schedule ensures that the Council can effectively oversee the registration and regulation of persons under the Act, as well as the broader regulatory responsibilities for pharmacists, their training and pharmacy-related entities and activities.
By maintaining rigorous standards and regulatory practices, the Pharmacy Council ensures the integrity and advancement of the pharmacy profession within the country.