The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), an association working for the upliftment of the pharmacy profession in the country, has sought the attention of union health minister Dr Harshvadhan towards the pathetic plight of the registered pharmacists working at various levels in India.
In a recent representation, IPA general secretary Bhupendra Kumar apprised the minister that the pharmacists are the lowest paid health professionals though they are well qualified having qualifications upto Doctorate in Pharmacy. Other health professionals and workers with same or less qualifications are getting more pay than the pharmacists. A Group-D employee can reach upto Group-A post by promotions, but in case of pharmacist no promotional avenues are provided. They join as pharmacist and retire on the same post. Due to this stagnation, the pharmacy profession is losing academic interest and seats in pharmacy colleges are lying vacant, the IPA in its letter said.
The pharmacists should get minimum pay equivalent to that of a primary teacher or less qualified junior engineer, the IPA demanded in its letter to the minister. The IPA asked for proper cadre formation with directorate of pharmacy as represented by Pharmacy Council of India (Statutory body regulating the Pharmacy profession) to health ministry previously.
The IPA also opposed the union health ministry's decision to start B.Sc Community Health programme from this academic year. The IPA, which has been raising its voice against the course from the first day, said that the course will further aggravate the condition of pharmacist as well as common man of rural areas.
Pointing out that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on health had also opposed the course, the IPA said that working and experienced pharmacist can serve the purpose with a short duration upgradation training as initiated by the UP Govt. Every professional whether a doctor, nurse or a paramedical have the opportunity of upgrading their education by means of part time upgradation courses. But, in the case of pharmacists no such upgradation course is available.
In this regard, the IPA demanded that a part time course from IGNOU as available for the nurses and doctors should be started for the pharmacists also.