With a view to ensure better representation of pharmacists, Doctor of Pharmacy Association (DPA) recently met the Speaker of Telangana legislative assembly Sirikonda Madhusudhana Chary Garu urging him to urgently create posts of clinical pharmacist for Pharm D holders in each hospital as per the patient ratio. They stressed that considering the key role the pharmacists play in the healthcare system especially since they interact with patients very closely, steps should be taken to recognise doctor of Pharmacy i.e. Pharm.D’s as healthcare providers.

Industry insiders strongly feel that this is the need of the hour as these pharmacists are easily accessible in the community to provide not only the required drug information for treating basic illness, creating public awareness, administration of public and preventive health programs, carry out vaccination, but also for patient counselling as well. The association stressed that by doing this the government will be able to provide safe, convenient and cost effective solution for addressing the health care needs of the nation.

Pharm.D or doctor of pharmacy course is a professional pharmacy doctoral programme of six years after the completion of 10+2 which includes five years of academic study plus one year of internship or residency. Under section 22 of UGC act Pharm.D is a PG qualification and passed out students can directly register for Ph.D. interestingly, Pharm.D was introduced in the year 2008 by PCI to produce clinically competent pharmacists to improve patient care.

The association also pushed for immediate establishment of drug information centre and pharmacovigilance centre in the state, because common man easily get knowledge about drug interaction, side effects, toxicity, etc. They also insisted that there is a need to ensure strict implementation of Drugs & Cosmetic Act-1940 and Rules 1945 & Pharmacy Act 1948 in the drug stores. While they also urged the state government to fill up all the vacant posts of pharmacists in NRHM, PHC, CHC, district hospitals and teaching hospitals at the earliest, to delivery timely services.