A panel discussion took place recently in Delhi as a part of Indian Pharmacists Convention under the auspices of Udyog Development Foundation. Key health policy makers and health activists deliberated on issues like dispensing of drugs in the absence of a registered pharmacist, role of Registered Medical Practitioners in eradicating unqualified persons from dispensing drugs and review of Acts governing the profession.

Delhi based Udyog Development Foundation (UDF), a not for profit organisation who spearheaded the Indian Pharmaceutical Revolution (IPR) Yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari from January to December 2013 hosted the IPC in Delhi for the first time recently.

"There are several qualified pharmacists in the country who are either unemployed or under-paid. Government should fill up all the vacant posts of pharmacists and involve pharmacists in the healthcare policy," said Amitav Joyprakash Choudhury, founder, UDF and convener-IPR Yatra on the sidelines of the event.

The panel deliberated on the need for pharmacist's service in the National Healthcare policy document. It was concluded to include hospital based Pharmacare services in the national health policy document and create suitable hierarchy of pharmacists for the proper implementation of various pharmacare management and vigilance programs. It was also observed that the importance of the pharmacare service in availing professional logistic and clinical support has been very much underplayed. Mismanagement and irrational inventory of pharma products has led to wastage on one hand and scarcity of life saving drugs on the other hand. It is high time that doctors, general administrators and policy makers understand that pharmacy and drugs management is the exclusive domain of pharmacists.

Dispensing the drugs in total absence of the registered pharmacist has been a biggest menace affecting the safety of the patients and prospects of the profession and professionals. It is an offence under Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules and also under Pharmacy Act 1948. Hence, It was resolved to request all the employers of the Registered Pharmacists to appoint full time pharmacists to ensure availability of professional pharmacist’s service to the public as envisaged in the Act and Rules, pay respectable remuneration considering his qualification, knowledge and skill with PF, leave facilities and insist on the pharmacist a minimum of 8 hours attendance at the licenced premises.

The panel acknowledged the view of Mahesh Zagade, former FDA Commissioner, Maharashtra, that Acts and Rules framed to protect patients from the clandestine unregulated drugs and unqualified traders has lost focus and has been exploited to protect illegal drug dealers and traders in the name of manufacturing, wholesale and retail licensees. The panel also observed that there are abundant mismatches, contradictions and anomalies that need to be addressed and rectified. Hence, it was resolved to appeal to the policy makers and administrators for strict enforcement, rectification of ambiguities and anomalies in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Pharmacy Act, 1948. Both the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Pharmacy Act 1948 should be enforced strictly to eradicate ‘Quackery’ in pharmacy profession. The term 'Chemists & Druggists' should be deleted, the term 'Pharmacy' should be redefined to include stocking and dispensing of pre packed and pre-labelled drugs, the term 'Approved Person' and 'Qualified person' should be replaced by 'Approved Registered Pharmacist', the title "License to Stock, Sell and to distribute" should be replaced by 'License to practice pharmacy", the term 'Practice pharmacy ' should be defined to include stock management , dispensing and  counselling' the patient.

Amitav Joyprakash Choudhury, founder president of UDF, Bhagvan PS, registrar, Karnataka State Pharmacy Council, Bengaluru, SL Nasa, registrar, Delhi State Pharmacy Council, Atul Nasa, licensing authority, Drugs Control Administration, New Delhi, Mahesh Zagade, former FDA Commissioner, Maharashtra and Dr. Nitin Bhai Patel, National President, Indian Medical Association(IMA), Dr Narendra Saini, secretary general, Indian Medical Association(IMA) and Prof.Sushma Yadav, pro-vice chancellor-IGNOU took part in the panel discussion.