Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (RIPS), Berhampur, Odisha, conducted the 53rd National Pharmacy Week with great enthusiasm from November 17 to 24, 2014. The inaugural function held in the college auditorium on 17th November and it was inaugurated by the chairperson J. Jayalakshmi.

The principal, Dr M E Bhanoji Rao underlined the objectives of National Pharmacy Week and the efforts of IPA to strengthen and promote pharmacy profession in the country. He also elaborated various programmes such as blood donation camp, pharma rally, Swach Bharat, and other activities like, quiz, poster presentation, essay writing etc.

The chief guest, Jayalakshmi commended the services of pharmacist in the healthcare of common man. Dr J Surya Rao, director, said it is the pharmacist, who manufactures the quality medicine and without medicine there is no treatment. Prof. Ravi Kumar  and Prof Ch Niranjan Patro elaborated the theme and advised the students to strengthen the profession through various activities.

The students of M. Pharm and B. Pharm also spoke on the role of the pharmacists and about the pharmaceutical care. Brief history of IPA and its objectives were highlighted. On 19th November 2014, a blood donation camp was held in which 62 students donated blood for the noble cause as part of National Pharmacy Week activities.

A “Pharmacy rally” was organised on 20th November wherein about 200 students very actively participated and it was one of the longest rallies in Berhampur covering about 6 km from Gandhinagar junction to MKCG Medical College. During this rally students displayed a number of placards on the responsible role of pharmacist and distributed leaf-lets about proper use of medicines and their storage. The rally was flagged off by Subash Maharana, chairman, Berhampur Development Authority.

On 21st November student’s activities such as poster presentation, quiz competition and also one “Skit” on the theme ‘Save Girl Child’ were organised by the ‘RIPONOA’, the RIPS students innovative club. On 22nd “Swach Bharat” programme was organised under the leadership of the director, Dr. J .Surya  Rao. And finally on 24th November the Valedictory function was held to conclude the 53rd National Pharmacy Week. T. Vasudeva Rao, drug inspector, South Zone, Berhanmpur, addressed the students to prove themselves as the experts of drug and pharmaceuticals and become “Responsible Pharmacists” and serve the society and the profession.