The Indian Pharmacist Association (IPA) has demanded to widen the opportunity for pharmacists by permitting them to prescribe medicine in primary healthcare as the role played by pharmacists remains stagnant in India.

Recently the IPA has written to Prime Minister highlighting the issues related to pharmacists, urging him to give opportunities to registered pharmacists so that a large pool of qualified pharmacists who otherwise have very feeble opportunity in the health sector will have a brighter scope, in place of starting the proposed B.Sc community health programme to serve the patients.

The central government in 2009-10 had proposed to start the B.Sc community health programme to address the issue of non availability of medical practitioners in rural area but the proposal had received resistance from doctors and pharmacists.

Parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare had also recommended not to introduce B.Sc community health course. A candidate who may have B.Sc community health cannot substitute a qualified MBBS doctor and not even a qualified and experienced pharmacist.

Abhay Kumar, national president of IPA says, “We are only demanding the government to allow the pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common diseases and ailments at the primary level. So that the vacuum created by non availability of registered medical practitioners in rural areas can be filled by experienced pharmacists. There is no necessity to start B.Sc community health programme. IPA would also like to volunteer the pharmacists for any such role to be played if the government entrusts to introduce non-doctor based cadre who can prescribe medicine in India.”

In the developed countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada etc the service and calibre of pharmacist is utilised as prescribing pharmacist' where the pharmacists are authorised to prescribe medicine. This delegation of right to prescribe medicine has played a major role in uplifting the overall health status of these countries. In India pharmacists in states like Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh etc are already prescribing medicine to patients but are waiting due recognition and appreciation.

He further adds, “Pharmacists are vastly available with qualification ranging from D.Pharma to PhD and are already well trained in pharmacology of drugs and their uses, side effects, drug interaction etc. Job creation for pharmacists has been in a slow lane resulting in several students staying from courses in pharmacy colleges across the country. Permitting pharmacists to prescribe medicine will not require any amendment in Acts like Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Pharmacy Act, etc.”

Referring to order dated on November 10, 2010 passed by the division bench of Delhi High Court, the government directed to introduce a short term course for training health workers for primary health care in rural areas and then license and regulate graduates of the said course. Kumar said the order depicts to introduce a short term course for existing health workers (pharmacists) in primary healthcare. Although the pharmacists have very vast and vital role in the health sector, but in India it has been curtailed with dispensing of medicine only.

Kumar also informed that the PCI and MCI are also against the course and they will not conduct the B.Sc community health course. IPA is also planning to meet the Prime Minister next month and will soon send the memorandum to all the members of Parliament.