THE Tasmanian Pharmacy Authority is seeking legal advice over the right of pharmacists to take their dogs to work, citing concerns about dispensary hygiene.
Registrar Margie Cole was quoted by the Hobart Mercury confirming the Authority had already asked several pharmacists to stop having their dogs behind the counter.
The concerns have been taken to the state's Department of Premier and Cabinet as well as the Health Department, with the Authority urging law changes which would give councils clear powers to instruct owners to remove their dogs from pharmacies.
The unnamed pharmacists have reportedly resisted the calls.
"The pharmacists say 'our customers love them' [but] I have members of the public ringing me saying they are not impressed," Cole said.
"Clearly pharmacies have to be a very hygienic place; we are just amazed that the pharmacists think it's OK," she added.
Tasmanian Pharmacy Authority chairman Rhys Jones has called for changes to the Dog Control Act, saying "there are serious concerns about hygiene with having any animal in the pharmacy, especially in the dispensary and medicines preparation area".
He said members of the public had contacted the Authority from time to time, advising they had seen pharmacists handling their dog and then handling medicines without washing their hands.
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