BEIJING -- The number of licensed pharmacists totaled over 1.03 million by the end of November, data from the National Medical Products Administration showed.

Over 460,000 licensed pharmacists were registered in retail drug stores, said the NMPA.

Since the establishment of a licensed pharmacist system in 1994, China has initially built relevant management institutions, organizations and professional teams, said Yang Wei, an NMPA official.

The number of licensed pharmacists per 10,000 citizens should exceed four by the end of 2020 while the operation of each retail drug store should be in the charge of licensed pharmacists, according to the country's 13th Five-Year Plan.