Udyog Development Foundation, a group of around 5,30,000 pharmacists from across the country have submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Directorate of Health Services for expediting the process of filling of the remaining 10 per cent vacancies for pharmacist job across the state healthcare institutions.
Among other prominent demands which need to be addressed as per the proposal are increasing the grade pay of state level pharmacists according to Central government norms, strengthening of Drug Information Centres (DICs) through WHO support and setting up of state pharmacovigilance centre in the state.
Based on the meeting with Director Health Services Satish Pawar and Addl Director Health Services Dr Archana Patil, Founder of Udyog Development Foundation Amitav Joyprakash Choudhury said that there are over 2800 pharmacists in the state and 10 per cent vacancies need to be filled in the healthcare institutions across the state for the sake of patient safety. There are 23 district hospitals, 3 general hospitals, 11 dedicated women hospitals, 4 mental hospitals, 1811 public health centres (PHCs), 362 rural hospitals and 80 sub district hospitals where pharmacists role is indispensable.
The meeting also brought to light though there are 74 warehouses in the state run by pharmacists including 66 warehouses in 33 districts and 8 warehouses in 8 divisions of the state for effective distribution of generic medicines. There is also a demand that the procurement in charge of the state should be a qualified pharmacist and not a doctor.
These demands are a part of Indian Pharmaceutical Revolution Yatra (IPR) - (Kashmir to Kanyakumari) launched on 4th January, 2013 from Jantar Mantar, New Delhi to further the pharmacists demand for comprehensive reforms in Pharmacy Act.
As per the agenda of IPR, the pharmacists from across the country have also demanded that the government should recognize professionals with Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) as primary healthcare providers in the state. Professionals holding Pharm D degrees are not recognized as primary healthcare providers, while they have all the knowledge about the drug information and can treat basic illness.
Among other demands, the pharmacists have also proposed the government to create a separate Directorate of Pharmacy in the medical and health department and reconstitute Pharmacists as Director Pharmacy, Deputy Director (Admin), Deputy Director (purchase), officer in charge pharmacy and chief pharmacists in each hospital in every district.