Besides facing a shortage of pharmacists with only 200 registrations done till date by Arunachal Pradesh Pharmacy Council (APPC), the state requires additional five drug inspectors to keep a tab on around 2000 existing drug retail stores for proper implementation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Says Nangbia Tapin, registrar, APPC, "There are only six drug inspectors for the whole of Arunachal Pradesh and no drug testing laboratory in this sensitive border state. Establishment of drug testing laboratory is also required to check the standard and quality of drugs in Arunachal Pradesh."  

Arunachal Pradesh with 17 districts has a unique topography and health services needs to be aligned to the demands of the populace. It is a thinly populated state located in the foothills of the Himalayas and divided into six natural regions. Characterized by mountainous ranges and sub-mountainous terrains, the state shares a long international border with Bhutan to the West, China to the North and North-East and Myanmar to the East.  

Role of pharmacists in improvement of health sector in this distinctly located state can be further realized by setting up of drug information centre and appointment of pharmacists as Directorate of Health Services is not equipped to manage and handle the magnitude of work in the state healthcare sector.

"In order to address this problem in totality, a pharmacy college also needs to be set up to meet the shortage of trained pharmacists required in various health centres of the state under NRHM," Tapin said.

Arunachal Pradesh Chemist and Druggist Association (APCDA) along with Indian Pharmacist Revolution Yatra Convener Amitav J Choudhary is planning to meet the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki shortly to put forward the demands related to shortage of manpower, setting up of drug testing lab, drug information centre and pharmacovigilance centre.