The Indian Pharmacist Association (IPA), an association working for uplifting the pharmacy profession in the country, has taken strong exception to the union health ministry’s move to introduce B.Sc (Community Health) programme at graduation level to meet the healthcare needs of rural people. The IPA has asked the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to immediately intervene in the matter.
In a representation to PCI secretary cum registrar Archana Mudgal, IPA secretary general Bhupendra Kumar said that the launch of B.Sc. (Community Health) programme is equally against the pharmacists, doctors and nurses. At the same time, with no experience, these B.Sc (Community Health) passed out will serve only as quacks.
Pharmacists in rural areas are dispensing as well as prescribing medicine to patients. State governments like Punjab, UP, Uttarakhand, etc. have allowed pharmacists to prescribe medicine in the absence or non-availability of doctors. IPA is unable to understand why pharmacists are ignored completely and a new course has been launched by the central government, the IPA asked.
Different Acts like Pharmacy Act and Drugs and Cosmetics Acts are there to serve the pharmacy profession. According to section 42 of Pharmacy Act no person other than a registered pharmacist shall compound, prepare, mix, or dispense any medicine on the prescription of a medical practitioner and whoever contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or with both. But the Acts are violated throughout India, the IPA in its representation said.
It is a well known fact that pharmacists are giving their services in far-flung areas not only as a pharmacist but also as a doctor in the absence and unavailability of doctor in government health institutions in states like UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab etc. But in place of giving due recognition and appreciating their work, union health Ministry is launching the B.Sc. (Community Health) for rural areas, IPA regretted.
A pharmacist after an up-gradation course of just six months will definitely work far better than the B.Sc. (Community Health) passed out. This will not only save the national revenue but public will also receive the quality service from experienced pharmacists who are already working in rural and far flung areas, the IPA said.