Even as the pharmacy institutions and IPA state branch in Tamil Nadu celebrated the Pharmacist Day on September 25, two associations of registered pharmacists headquartered in Chennai and Thanjavur districts observed the Day as ‘Black Day’ registering a protest against the government’s apathy to consider their demands.
The pharmacists belong to the organisations, TN Pharmacist Awareness Organisation (TNPAO) and Tamil Nadu Pharmacists Association (TPA), wore black badges from morning to evening during their work and the office-bearers hoisted black flags in their pharmacies. The office-bearers of the organisations informed that they avoided staging dharnas in front of government offices because the date fell on Sunday. However, TPA had given a letter to the ADC office in Thanjavur informing the assistant drugs controller of staging dharna in front of his office, which was cancelled later, said Thanjore Patten Raj, general secretary of TPA.
Whereas, the chairman of TNPAO hoisted a black flag in front of his pharmacies at Kumbhakonam and at Thanjavur in protest against the government’s attitude towards the demands raised by pharmacists. He distributed black badges to the member pharmacists of his organisation. TNPAO has a membership strength of 7000 pharmacists throughout Tamil Nadu. The members of PAO in all the 32 revenue districts wore black badges during the whole day, said Tamil Venden, chairman of TNPAO.
According to the organisations, neither the state government nor the central government is considering their long pending demands. Whereas, the demands raised by doctors and nurses are recognized on time by all the governments. Pharmacists are always sidelined. Venden said the protest against the lethargy will continue till their demands are met by the governments. Next year, PAO will observe September 25 as Black Day in the national level.
The demands of the Associations mainly include implementation of Pharmacy Act 1948 and Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2015. Pharmacy Act is for establishing a proper method of pharmacy practice and dispensing system, and the PPR is for the welfare of the pharmacists. Both this act and the regulations have to be implemented in all the states in India. Besides, the non-pharmacist people working in various pharmacies should not be allowed to handle drugs.
Tamil Venden said PAO will hold one agitational programme before the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) office in Chennai in the month of December. He said the PCI is really cheating the pharmacists as it is not taking the problems of the pharmacists to the governments. He said the pharmacists' slogan to the public is ‘we care you’, but nobody is there to care the pharmacists.