The Federation of Indian Pharmacists Organisation (FIPO) has urged the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), government of India to revise the Rule 51 of the Central Civil Services Leave Rules (CCS) in order to facilitate the pharmacists in the central government health services to pursue higher studies in pharmacy, especially the three-year Pharm D (PB) programme.

Dr R S Thakur, president of FIPO, in his letter to the joint secretary of DoPT has said that pharmacists with higher qualification will be highly useful in ensuring rational therapy, safe medication usage and saving mankind from the menace of modern medicines.

According to him, currently the maximum amount of study leave granted to a Central government employee is only 12 months, or twenty four months in his/her entire period of services. As per the guidelines of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the duration of Pharm D (PB) is three academic years and the minimum qualification for joining the programme is degree in pharmacy (B.Pharm). So, FIPO has wanted the government to increase the amount of study leave to three years, from the existing 12 months, for the graduate pharmacists working in hospitals, dispensaries and health centres so as to make them do the Pharm D (post baccalaureate) course.

Dr Thakur, who served in the central health services earlier, presented a resolution in this regard in the executive committee meeting of FIPO, followed by it, the committee passed the resolution wanting the government to make changes in Rule 51 of the CCS leave rules to increase the total quantum of study leave to 36 months to enable the eligible pharmacists to pursue the doctoral pharmacy program. FIPO also wanted the government to take steps on priority basis so that in-service pharmacists can join the course from the ensuing academic session 2015-16.

The organisation has forwarded their requests to the union health ministry and to the Pharmacy Council of India. It has written separately to the PCI to press the government for fulfilling their demand in the interest of the public.

The PCI on January 15 this year notified the revised Pharmacy Practice Regulations to improve the quality of pharmacy profession which in turn is meant to improve the quality of health care, to ensure maintenance of standard in the duties of pharmacists, to reduce healthcare costs and to inhibit criminal abuse of medicines.