Union ministry of health is planning to launch a refresher course for unqualified persons who have experience of dispensing drugs under a qualified pharmacist for more than 5 years in a bid contain the current shortage of pharmacists at the retail chemist shops.
An amendment to Pharmacy Act and Drugs & Cosmetics Act may be required for the purpose..
The course will be conducted by the Union health ministry in association with Pharmacy Council of India. According to the Pharmacy Act and the D&C Act, only a registered pharmacist can dispense medicines on the prescription of a medical practitioner.
Scores of retail chemist shops in the north and north east with unqualified unqualified persons are under the threat of closure as their license renewals are due in December with no availability of pharmacists in these regions.
.
In West Bengal, licence renewals of 4,000-5,000 pharmacies are due in December. In Uttar Pradesh, licences of 10,000 retail drug stores are due for renewal in December followed by 5,000 chemists in Bihar, 2,000 drug stores each in Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Punjab, 1,500 pharmacies in Orissa, 500 medical stores each in Uttaranchal, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking serious note of this, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), a representative body of 8 lakh chemists in India, had raised the issue pertaining to shortage of pharmacists with the health ministry at a meet on November 7. The shortage of pharmacists affected renewal of retail drug licence in north and north eastern regions, said AIOCD.
At the meet, the trade body urged the ministry to conduct a refresher course for those persons who have no basic education in pharmacy, but showed an experience of work under a qualified pharmacist for more than five years. On Successful completion of the course, certificates will be issued to participants making them eligible to obtain retail drug licence. It will help tide over shortage of pharmacists in the regions. The ministry showed positive approach towards the suggestion, said AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta.
The meet was attended by joint secretary (health ministry) KL Sharma, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) GN Singh, AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta among others. Pharmacy Council of India president B Suresh who could not attend the meet assured to resolve the issue in a telephonic interaction with DCGI.
On November 16, health ministry convened a joint meeting of AIOCD, PCI, DCGI to hold further discussion on launch of refresher course for non pharmacists operating drug stores but PCI president B Suresh and DCGI GN Singh could attend the meet.
A joint meet of health ministry, central government, AIOCD, PCI, DCGI is likely to be held at earliest to discuss the course curriculum, time frame etc, Gupta informed.