In the wake of ongoing protests by Chhattisgarh Pharmacist Association (CPA) against B.Sc. Community Health Programme, the Association has submitted a memorandum consisting nine points to the Health ministry and other concerned ministers in Chhattisgarh to opt pharmacists in B.Sc. Community Course.

In the memorandum, the CPA has demanded the presence of pharmacists in drug purchase committee as a technical member; 3-6 months clinical exposure to the pharmacists. It has highlighted an increase in the salary of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK) pharmacists up to 20,000 per month based on their qualification.

The CPA has proposed to the Health ministry to appoint 600 pharmacists for grade 2 post particularly in government hospitals on priority through a state level entrance exam, and has urged to appoint pharmacy officer in District Headquarters, hospitals and medical colleges. Further, it insisted that the regulators should ensure the presence of pharmacists in medical stores as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

It has stressed that Drugs and Cosmetics Act was needed to be enforced by ensuring the presence of pharmacists displaying their names, qualification and registration number and that the drug inspectors in tehsil should also be given the status of a gazetted officer with the grade pay of Rs. 5,400.

Ashwini Gurdekar, president CPA, says, “We as pharmacists study maximum health management techniques. We as drug specialists study more regarding the drugs than any other health personnels. However, the government is unable to recognise pharmacists for healthcare programmes and restrict them only to drug distribution.”

“Pharmacists should be encouraged by providing the benefits of Chhattisgarh Rural Medical Course (CRMC) and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY)”, he opines.

Gurdekar informed that the CPA is contending this programme to offer pharmacists a better substitute public facilitating programme, for the fact that around 8000 qualified pharmacists in state were still looking for the job opportunities adding that approximately 5-6 lac pharmacists in the country today were unemployed

He then said that the Opposition Leader Honorable, T S Singhdev has written to CM to consider the demands. Bilaspur District Body has also made a Mega Rally in Bilaspur to protest for this cause.

CPA is also planning to paralyse the drugs distribution system in the health department of Chhattisgarh government requesting all other pharmacists to take part in a one day rally.