The Kerala Private Pharmacists Association (KPPA) will hold its 24th annual conference on May 15 and 16 at the SSI auditorium in Kollam in Kerala. The conference will be inaugurated by the state labour minister P K Gurudasan.

Dr George D'Cruz, retired professor of chemistry from Fatima Mata National College, Kollam will present a paper on 'Global Warming and Health issues' in the conference.

The office-bearers of KPPA said the conference will pass two resolutions in the two days conference and there will be discussions on current problems in the pharma trade industry.

While welcoming the Kerala High Court order asking the private hospitals to obtain drug licenses for their pharmacies and appoint qualified pharmacists to dispense the drugs, KPPA said they will pressurize the government to implement the order with immediate effect.

The three drugs acts, the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, Indian Pharmacy Act, and Drugs & Magic Remedies Act, stipulate only a qualified pharmacist must dispense the drug, but today, many retail outlets are doing business without a pharmacist. The association will fight against this malpractice, they said.

A Satheesan, secretary of the association said he will propose a resolution in the seminar demanding drug manufacturing companies to stop fake advertisements on medicines as they are only helping to cheat the common man.

V Rajendra Babu, mayor of Kollam will preside over the seminar.