What is the meal/rest break duration for a pharmacist when there is only one pharmacist on duty?

• A. Forty-five minutes
• B. Thirty minutes
• C. Fifteen minutes
• D. Sixty minutes

Answer: (B)

When only one pharmacist is on duty, the regulation allows a 30-minute meal or rest break. This duration provides enough time for the pharmacist to eat or rest while the pharmacy arranges coverage so patient safety and proper medication management aren’t compromised. Breaks shorter than that don’t meet the typical requirement, and longer breaks could leave the pharmacy unattended or under-supervised. The idea is to balance the need for the pharmacist’s downtime with maintaining continuous, safe operation of the pharmacy.