The Federation of Chemists & Druggists of Karnataka (FC&DK) has now suggested to the Union ministry of health and family welfare to amend the clause (ii) of sub-rule (64) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules 1945 to make only registered pharmacists eligible to grant or renewal of license for wholesale trade in the country. This according to the Federation is with reference to the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II- Section 3- sub-section (i), No. 890 dated December 28, 2016.

In a communiqué to the Union government, Ashokswamy Heroor, vice president, Federation of Chemists & Druggists of Karnataka said that it has suggested the proposed proviso to the amendment which states, “provided the persons already registered with the state licensing authority as competent person for the purposes of grant of licenses in Form 20B and 21 B or both, prior to the coming into force of the Drugs & Cosmetics Amendment Rules 2016, shall continue to be considered as a competent person for the said purposes.”

“We are now requesting to delete the same and add a qualified registered pharmacist should henceforth be compulsory for grant or renewal of license in Form 20 B or 21 B or both. Competent persons may only be allowed to work in the pharmacy shop under direct supervision of the qualified registered pharmacists,” pointed out the vice president of the Federation of Chemists & Druggists of Karnataka.

To solve the unemployment problem for qualified pharmacists in the country, the drugs should not be supplied by manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers to the government healthcare centres, private hospitals and other medical institutions where there is no full time service of registered pharmacists, he pointed out.

Wholesale distribution or retail drug stores will need to have registered pharmacists. This will ensure proper handling, storage, preservation and quality assurance of all medicines and medical devices by duly qualified registered pharmacists. It is the only way to protect the public health by making available the best quality of medicine for safe, effective and economic therapy. In India, there are about 8 lakh unemployed registered pharmacists who are eagerly waiting for job opportunities in the sector to serve as community pharmacists, he said.

The Federation, therefore calls for the considerations of this important suggestion in the interest of health of the public who require the pharmaceutical care, stated the vice president of the Federation of Chemists & Druggists of Karnataka.