The drugs controller general of India (DCGI) Dr GN Singh will present the Best Pharmacist Award instituted by Tamil Nadu IPA to the winner this time. The name of the winner has not been announced so far.

However, it is learnt that an eminent pharma industry doyen from Chennai who is soon to be elevated to the post of National President of an all India manufacturers’ body is likely to be the winner of this year’s award. The association has deliberately invited the DCGI to present the award and give advance felicitation to the ‘president-designate’ ahead of his installation.

Dr Singh is the Chief Guest in the function organised as part of the 52nd National Pharmacy Week celebration to be held on November 23 in Chennai.

To woo the academia, this time the association has invited the associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Wegmans School of Pharmacy in US to deliver on the theme “Pharmacist – A Healthcare Professional”, said J Jayaseelan, secretary of TN IPA.

Prof K Chinnaswami, president of TN Pharmacy Council will preside over the inaugural function in which Dr B Suresh, president of the PCI will be the Guest of Honor. State drugs control director in-charge S Abdul Khader, president of TN IPA, MM Yusuf and J Jayaseelan will speak on the occasion.

Last year, the award was given to the state drugs controller and before that it was awarded to a lecturer of a pharmacy college in Chennai. The programme is organised in association with TN Pharmaceutical Welfare Trust and Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), TN branch.