Karnataka government has highlighted the value of the pharmacist as a profession and is now looking to start a second Government College of Pharmacy in the state.

The importance of the pharmacist to counsel patients on the right medication  practices across hospitals in the country cannot be ignored, said State minister for health and family welfare UT Khader who inaugurated the two-day Golden Jubilee celebrations of the lone Government Pharmacy College in Karnataka at Bengaluru.

Also present on the occasion was the minister for medical education Dr Sharanprakash Patil, as chief guest who said that no hospital could function in the absence of a pharmacist. “We want to see many more students come forward and take up this profession. The student community needs to adopt human values and make their endeavour in serving the public as a primary goal.”

A film documentary on the completion of 50 years by the Government College of Pharmacy was released by principal secretary, government of Karnataka, Dept. of health and family welfare, M Madan Gopal. He  emphasized the importance of health sector and the increased allocation in the current five year plan.

Principal secretary of Health asked the industry and academia to wake up to the challenges of the transition from process patents to product patent and to aggressively pursue research and development with the motto to bring cheap and effective drugs. He also assured the Government College of Pharmacy to put forth the proposals to the state government for the required funds to strengthen the infrastructure. “In addition, all scientific programmes initiated by the State Drugs Control department would be given complete assistance.”

Also present were Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs Controller and Dr Rashmi Bharbaiya, CEO and MD, Advinus Therapeutics along with Professor S Shashidhara, principal, Government College of Pharmacy among others.