MPS Tutorial on Forensics Exams

Acknowledgement: Credit goes to Elaine for the content of this post =)
Best of luck to all who are siting for the exams!!

Format

• Duration: 3 ½ hours


• MCQ (50 questions; 1 mark each)
  
  
  
  • Tests us on the understanding of pharmacy legislations
  
  
  • SAQ (5 questions; 10 marks each; 50 marks in total)
    
    
    
    • For each 10 marks question, approximately “20 points” are needed.
    
    
    • Tests us on the application of pharmacy legislations
    
    
    Passing mark: 50
  
  
  
  

Miscellaneous Notes

1. Btw government pharmacists are REGISTERED and not LICENSED =) Licensed pharmacists are private sector people.


2. In the Third Schedule of the DD (list of “exemptions” from DDA; as given by DDR 25)), everything would be a PS (eg. methadone, morphine and pethidine) EXCEPT (codeine, diphenoxylate and pholcodeine; which are Group C) and opium (which is Group B).


3. In law, shall means “wajib”.


4. What is the difference between drug, poison, non-poison, psychotropic substance and DD?
   

• Drug (see definition in SODA) → … substance, product… internally or externally for medicinal purposes.


• Poison (anything in First Schedule of PA)


• Non-poison (by definition, anything NOT in First Schedule of PA eg. PCM and LMS)


• Psychotropic substance (anything in Third Schedule of PA)


• DD (Anything in First Schedule of DD)


• THEREFORE, drug consists of poisons, non-poisons, PS and DD (these are sub-sets of drug) as all these are within the definition of → … substance, product… internally or externally for medicinal purposes.

5. How to differentiate between “poisons book” and “prescription book”?

• Prescription book – for dispensed medicine (Group B and C)


• Poisons book – OTHER than dispensed medicine (eg. drugs for research purposes).

Q: Explain the supply of injection morphine sulphate for the purpose of medical treatment. [FOCUS on this question, likely to come out again]

• What is the “guiding factor” of this question?
  
  
  
  • Classification of injection morphine sulphate → psychotropic substance under the third schedule of the PA 52.
  
  
  • NOT DD drug (because injection morphine sulpate is a “preparation” and not raw material (eg. morphine powder) → Note: read DDR third schedule (R25).
  
  
  • Therefore, we are to supply it in accordance to PPSR.
  
  
  • NOTE: We will not get marks if you jumble up everything, ie. explain the supply of injection morphine sulphate using PPSR and DDR. Shows that we “tembak”.
  
  
  • Explain what’s “for the purpose of medical treatment”. PPSR R. 11 (SR 1 – 7).
  
  
  • What else to mention in the answer: R 19 (recording), R 22, 23(register), R 28 (labeling).
  
  
  • NOTE: For each regulation, just explain in your own words (no need to say stuff like “notwithstanding” etc.)
  
  
  
  

NOTE: The following is a variation of the above question:

Q: Explain the sale of injection morphine sulphate for wholesale supply

• What is the “guiding factor” of this question?
  
  
  
  • PPSR R 12 states that “… other than medical treatment” → this implies WHOLESALE.
  
  
  • Everything in which the “end user” is not a patient is WHOLESALE. Eg. of “end user” being a patient = retail.
  
  
  • Therefore, explain using PPSR R. 12 (SR 1 – 2), R 20 (records for wholesale), R 22, 23 (register for wholesale), R 26, 27 (labeling for wholesale).
  
  
  
  

Q: Explain in relation to poisons (i) immediate personal supervision; (ii) dispensed medicine.

• NOTE: Always start with definition/interpretation. Use PA.

(i) Immediate personal supervision (S2 (2))

(ii) Dispensed medicine (S2 (1))

• There are 2 parties involved in dispensed medicine:
  
  
  
  • Pharmacists (S16?)
  
  
  • Non pharmacists (S19)
  
  
  • Also talk about group B medicine (S21 (1b,c)) and group C medicine (b)
  
  
  • How about recording and labeling of dispensed medicine; and contrasting between government and private settings?

	Government	Private
Recording	PR 23 (3)	PA S 24 (SS1a – d)
Labeling	PR 23 (4)	PR 12 (a – e)
NOTE: How about for the psychotropic drugs’ recording and labeling?	Speaker said “almost the same for GOV and PVT”.

• NOTE: PR 23 (outpatient), 24 (inpatient) and 25 (storage) is for GOV hospitals BUT PR 24 ALSO applies for PVT hospitals.


• How about immediate personal supervision?
  
  
  
  • S12, 19.
  
  
  
  

Q: Explain the requirements for a person to become a pharmacist.

• ROPA (S6, 6A, 6B, 8, 11A – F)


• ROPR (R6, 8, 12)


• NOTE: Basically for this question, just expound on the necessary qualifications, experience, and don’t forget the necessary forms/documents to be sent in/fees if any, etc. → how to become a full-fledged registered pharmacist (FRP). Also talk about who registers us (Pharmacy Board) and to whom do we APPLY to be registered (the “registrar” (ie. the Director of Pharmaceutical Services).

Q: Explain the procurement and supply of morphine powder at a government hospital.

• The government has 2 means of procurement/obtainment:
  
  
  
  • from a licensed wholesaler (local) DDR 5
  
  
  • importation (DDA S20)


• For the supply, refer to:
  
  
  
  • DDHGEO.
  
  
  • Explain using Schedule A (Order 1 – 9). In Order 2, is stated “part 1 of the second schedule” → the register (as mentioned in DDR 15). DRAW this out.
  
  
  
  

Q: What are the contraventions relating to drugs and products?

• NOTE: Contravention means any person who does not follow/obey/comply to directive issued by…)


• SODA – drugs (S 10, 11)


• CDCR – products (R7, 8, 28, 29).


• NOTE: (i) Who issues licences under CDCR? (Director of Pharmaceutical Services); (ii) Who registers products? (DCA; not BPFK!)

Q: What are the prohibitions regarding medical advertisements?

• S3, S4, 4A, 4B


• NOTE: MASA prevents improper advertisements but not the SALE. (For SALE, go back to SODA/CDCR).


• NOTE: Diseases in the schedule, strictly CANNOT advertise. But for other diseases, eg. osteoporosis, MAB may consider and give approval. Hence, Anlene® can advertise that its milk helps prevent osteoporosis or whatever


• NOTE: The label of product is an advertisement!