The Kerala State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) has submitted a proposal to deploy four full-time pharmacy inspectors in the state to inspect the pharmacy practices and the drug storage system in Kerala.

The unique feature of KSPC, the inspection system under the council by the pharmacists to monitor the pharmacy practice in the state, has been commenced 12 years ago with inspectors for three regions. Currently, there are seven part-time pharmacy inspectors offering services to two district each, under pharmacy council.

The pharmacy inspection with a team of inspectors, is to inspect whether the pharmacists abide the job ethics, to monitor the duties like rendering of pharmaceutical services to the patients, according to the laws are executed promptly and to submit reports to State Pharmacy Council on the complaints against its member pharmacists.

"We are one step ahead in maintaining the quality of pharmacy practice in the state, as the pharmacy inspectors are working parallel to the drug inspectors, where our inspectors monitor the pharmacy practices and pharmacy services offered by each pharmacist in the state while the drug inspectors monitor the drug manufacturing and marketing field," told K.M.Ishak, President (in-charge), KSPC.

The council found that the current system results in problems when it comes to legal matters and regular inspection procedures. By appointing four full-time inspectors, the council will be ready to stick with stringent monitoring system to endorse good pharmacy system in the state, opined K.M.Ishak.

The system enables the council to track and ensure the quality of services provide by the pharmacists. If the pharmacist found to be violating ethics, the council has the rights to call them in an executive meeting seeking explanation and can cancel or suspend their registration, explained Ishak.

The pharmacy council has also plans to set up 'Pharma Homes,' guesthouse for pharmaceuticals in three districts, for the first time in India. The pharma homes will be constructed at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikkode and Ernakulam and the council is in search for sites to set up the guesthouse. The council is planning to gather the funding from its members itself rather than waiting for funding from government, commented Ishak.

A proposal to provide medical insurance for the members and staffs of the KSPC is also under discussion. The plans are on the initial stage under preliminary discussion, and have to evolve much, maintained Ishak. However, he revealed that the first pharma home would be established at Thiruvananthapuram, to offer rooms in a reasonable rent to the pharmacists. The council at present has about 33,000 members in the state.