The Doctors of Pharmacy Association (DPA) has owed to fight against drug trade organisations and vehemently opposed the strike call given by organisations like All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) and All India Chemists & Distributors Federation (AICDF) on March 28 as the strike is against the interests of pharmacists.
As the AIOCD and AICDF have called for strike against mandatory presence of pharmacists in retail pharmacy stores on March 28, 2014, the Doctors of Pharmacy Association is against the bandh as their demand is against the pharmacists.
The strike has been called to pressurise the government to amend the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Rule to permit the partner or proprietor of the pharmacy who has not studied any pharmacy diploma/degree, with more than two years of experience be eligible to dispense medicines.
The Pharmacy Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act clearly state that the dispensing of medicine can only be made by a pharmacist. The mandatory presence of pharmacist is a much needed requirement for the public safety as it ensures the legality, safety and appropriateness of the prescription order before dispensing the medication to the patient.
“It has been propagated that there is shortage of pharmacists. But, fact is that every year thousands of pharmacy graduates coming out and there is a long queue of unemployed pharmacists. Allowing non-pharmacist to dispense medicine will further increase the number of unemployed pharmacists. They have demanded that people who do not have knowledge about pharmacy and its implications be allowed to sell medicines. People’s health will be at stake and pharmacy will be devalued, hence we will not support them. They are demanding the government to amend the laws for their selfish motives. Public health is at risk if we encourage these business minded unqualified drug sellers. We strongly condemn the act of these drug trade bodies. Government should strictly enforce the presence of pharmacist at retail counters”, Said Sai Kumar Katam, president of DPA.