title: Quality of drug stores: Storage practices & Regulatory compliance in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess and evaluate the drug storage quality and regulatory compliance among privately operated drug stores of Karachi Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of drug stores located in Karachi was conducted from May to December 2013. A total of 1003 drug stores that were involved in the sales, purchase and dispensing of pharmaceutical products were approached by non-probability purposive sampling technique, and the information was collected using a close ended, structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1003 drug stores inspected only 4.1%(n=41) were found compliant to regulatory requirements. Most of the stores 74.9%(n=752) were selling general items along with the drugs. Only 12%(n=124) stores were having qualified person working on the store, out of which 33% were pharmacist. 47.4%(n=400) of the stores had drug sales license displayed in the premises and 33.4%(n=282) of the stores had expired drug sales license. 11.4%(n=94) stores were found selling vaccines without proper refrigerator and only 11.7% stores had the power backup for the refrigerator. Only 40.2%(n=403) of stores were protected from direct sunlight and 5.4%(n=54) having air conditioning in the premises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The regulatory compliance of majority of the drug stores operated privately in different areas of Karachi is below standard. Only a few drugs stores have adequate facilities to protect the drugs from extreme temperature, sunlight and provision of refrigeration. Very few of the drug stores carry out drug sales under the supervision of qualified pharmacist. There is a dire need to improve the storage practices in the drug stores by complying with the regulatory standards/laws as specified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Mr. Syed Shaukat Ali Muttaqi Shah, M Pharm. PhD Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Shaukat Ali Muttaqi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Dr. Baqar Shyum Naqvi; PhD. Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Baqar Shyum
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.affiliation: Ms. Mashhad Fatima, MPhil. PhD Scholar, Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mashhad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Mr. Asif Khaliq, MPH, MBA, Pharm D. Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.affiliation: Mr. Abdul Latif Sheikh; MS(NY), R.Ph(NYS Board) Director, Pharmacy Services, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi & Outreach Programme, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul Latif
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Mr. Muhammad Baqar, Pharm D. Pharmacist, Medilink Clinics Pharmacy, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baqar
keywords: Drug Stores; Quality; Regulatory Compliance; Storage Practices