Delhi Pharmaceutical Trust (DPT) has communicated to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) that several High Courts in India including Allahabad HC had rejected the challenge put forth by chemist associations asking to overlook the need for a D. Pharm qualification to dispense drugs.

Following recent demand by the All Indian Organization for Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), to amend Rule 65(15)(c) of D&C Rules, DPT has now informed the MoHFW that any such move to prevent qualified pharmacists working at chemist shops should not be heeded and rejected outright.

The Courts have categorically stated that in their judgment, that dispensing of drugs is a professional job and public health can in no way be put into a question by allowing unqualified persons to practise the profession of pharmacy and deal with medicines. Therefore it would be appropriate for the Union government to restrict the amending the Rule 65 (15) C of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act, Dr DBA Narayana, managing trustee, DPT told Pharmabiz.

At DPT we have ensured that qualified D. Pharm candidates become more professional in their work output. Now interest of public safety, prescribing a qualifications to work as chemists cannot be revoked  at no cost, he added.

Further, DPT’s in its letter to the MoHFW expressed its opposition to the move to amend Rule 65 (15) C of the D&C Act.

The Trust also highlighted four aspects about the need for a qualified pharmacists: firstly, the law to dispense of medicines in retail outlets by persons certified as Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) acquiring the qualification after 10+ 2 system of education, has been enforced more than two decades after careful assessment by the government.

Secondly, while most countries across the globe ensure that jobs at pharmacy outlets are undertaken only by graduates in pharmacy, India is one of the few countries insisting only for a D Pharm to carry out dispensing of medications.

Thirdly, dealing with dispensing of drugs, and working as chemists selling medicines is viewed as a professional job and public health cannot be put into jeopardy, by any dilution of this minimum qualification.

Fourthly, most state pharmacy councils have been commissioned and are working to help chemists get the training and serve the public better.

“Decades of work done in this field by the DPT will be frittered away. Globally, India will fall in its image and will be seen to regress in standards for pharmacists if any consideration is given to the unjust demands of trade associations in terms of not recognising qualification which drives competence in drug dispensing,” said Dr Narayana.