With an aim to ensure competent persons are engaged in drug sale, the Union Health Ministry has directed the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) and Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) to work together to explore opportunity to provide skill training to those working in drug stores without any pharmacy qualification, to enable them to work as pharmacy assistants.

The suggestion was made to AIOCD by KL Sharma, joint secretary, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry at a meeting held in New Delhi on January 27 which was attended by Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) president Dr B Suresh, and AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta.

Most of the drug stores located in certain geographical locations in the country are run by non pharmacists due to non availability of pharmacists, said Gupta. Given shortage of pharmacy professionals in certain regions, skilling non qualified persons working at drug stores is a good step which will improve drug distribution system to ensure patient safety. It is our long standing demand for providing skill training to such persons, Gupta said.

AIOCD agreed to get non qualified people working at drug stores trained under skill development programme run by Healthcare Sector Skill Council. On completion of training, pharmacy assistants will be able to perform many pharmacy-related functions and review prescriptions or requests for refills that they receive from patients and nurses.

AIOCD general secretary demanded that on completion of the course, the candidates must be made eligible to act as qualified persons to run pharmacies.

Meanwhile, when contacted PCI president Dr B Suresh said, “As per Pharmacy Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, only pharmacists can dispense drugs at pharmacies. Both the Acts need to be changed if non pharmacists are allowed to carry out drug sale after getting trained. Pharmacists are required at drug stores to ensure patient safety.”

Replying to a query, he said HSSC came up with a proposal saying that there are non qualified people working at drug stores along with pharmacists. Non skilled persons can be made qualified through 3-6 months training programme to work as pharmacy assistants. The initiative needs to be taken by AIOCD and HSSC to train such persons. On completion of training, the candidates cannot become registered pharmacists, he clarified.

He further added that on completion of training, the candidates cannot be registered as pharmacy assistants as existing regulation doesn't have provision for it.

When asked whether PCI has been approached by HSSC to carry out such training initiative, Dr Suresh said so far PCI has not been approached for the same. PCI has been mandated to ensure registration of pharmacists and provide pharmacy education. As per our existing mandate, such initiatives don't come under our purview.

When asked about PCI's support to the HSCC initiative, he said that currently, work environment at drug stores is not conducive to pharmacists. Without putting in place support base for existing pharmacy workforce, creating additional workforce which is not employable, not provided with suitable compensation can not be justified. We need to first streamline role, working condition, wages of pharmacists. If proper framework comes up and role of assistant pharmacists defines, then we can take call on the initiative. We are ready to work with any government agency to improve healthcare of people if government asks us to do so, he opined.

As part of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), HSSC with the cooperation of National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) is partnering with healthcare industry leaders representing both public and private sector in providing skill training to healthcare professionals in the allied healthcare space.

HSSC has collaborated with several organisations including BD (Becton, Dickinson & Co.), GE Healthcare, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers to implement skill development programmes in allied healthcare space through training and assessment. So far HSSC has selected training partners in courses-- medical laboratory technician, home health aide level 4, general duty assistant level 4, emergency medical technician (basic), diet assistant, dialysis technician level 4, diabetes educator level 4, medical laboratory technician, refractionist level 4, vision technician level 4, phlebotomy technician.

For several courses including emergency medical technician – advanced, blood bank technician level 4, cardiac care technician level 4, pharmacy assistant, the council is yet to select training partners. It has not yet come out with eligibility criteria for candidates pursuing pharmacy assistant course.