A refrigerator is mandatory in a pharmacy because certain medicines, especially biologicals and temperature-sensitive drugs, must be stored within a controlled temperature range (usually 2°C to 8°C) to maintain their stability, safety, and efficacy.

Refrigerators Are Mandatory in Pharmacies because of the following reasons:
A) Regulatory Compliance:As per Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (India) and subsequent rules, a pharmacy storing temperature-sensitive medications (like insulin, vaccines, eye drops, biologicals, and some antibiotics) must have a functioning refrigerator with proper temperature monitoring.
😎 Preservation of Potency:Drugs like insulin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), vaccines, interferons, and some injectables lose efficacy if not kept within prescribed temperatures.
C) Patient Safety:Improper storage may render a drug ineffective or unsafe, leading to treatment failure, adverse reactions, or public health risks (especially with vaccines).

Now If a Pharmacy Switches Off the Refrigerator Overnight then the following issues could happen:

1)Temperature Excursion:
Even a few hours of exposure to ambient temperatures can cause permanent degradation of temperature-sensitive drugs.
2)Loss of Potency:
Medications may partially or completely lose effectiveness, even if they appear unchanged.
3)Silent Therapeutic Failure:
Patients may unknowingly use ineffective medications, leading to poor disease control or progression (e.g., in diabetes, fertility treatments, or infections).
4)Legal and Ethical Violations:If found during inspections, the pharmacy can face:
a)Show-cause notice or license suspension/cancellation.
b)Penalties under Schedule N of D&C Rules.
c)Loss of trust from patients and practitioners.
For example If a pharmacy stores insulin improperly by turning off the refrigerator at night, the insulin may lose its glycemic-lowering effect. A diabetic patient using it may experience uncontrolled sugar levels, risking diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or other serious complications.

Ideally Keep the refrigerator powered 24/7.Maintain temperature logs using a thermometer or data logger.
Place a backup power source or inverter for uninterrupted cooling.
Train pharmacy staff about cold chain management.
Regards ,
JAKSTAR PHARMA