Concerned by the lacklustre attitude of the government in bringing the pharmacy profession to the forefront, experts urged the centre to take immediate pro active measures towards recognizing the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system in the country. They insist that only by doing so, we can fully justify and ensure good healthcare services to the patients, as practiced in developed countries.

This demand comes in the wake of speculations and representation by some stakeholders want changes to be made in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to remove the requirement of a registered pharmacist to dispense medicines, which goes against the interest of the pharmacists and more importantly against the patients. Experts claim that the world is going ahead by initiating changes in their regulatory framework by strengthening the role of pharmacists as a health care professional, and it is high time to do similar efforts in our country.

According to Manjiri Gharat, vice-president and chairperson, community pharmacy division of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), though globally pharmacy is advancing towards pharmaceutical care, India still does not have the basic requirement fulfilled that ensures presence of a qualified pharmacist in all the pharmacies for all open hours, to supervise the dispensing of medicines and to offer advice for responsible use of medicines.

“In spite of the supportive laws, the struggle continues for the pharmacy profession in the country. Since beginning, medicines have been looked upon just as any other business commodity and since that is so,  the trade considerations take priority over the profession. To start with, it is crucial to ensure that the laws are followed and are enforced for compulsory presence of a registered pharmacist in the pharmacies supporting the community pharmacy initiative. Pharmacies are the first point of contact for the unwell consumers and pharmacists have a vital role in Indian healthcare which needs to be recognised by the policy makers,” she added.

Citing the new Brazilian law, she said that it is impressive how the government in Brazil has modified the concept of pharmacy in the country by making pharmacies and drug stores as ‘pharmaceutical assistance provision units’ for providing healthcare assistance as well as individual and public sanitary orientation, while de-listing them from being mere commercial establishments. Lots to learn from such examples, she stressed.