Demanding the Union government to put an end to the speculations, arising out of the recent meeting between the government, AIOCD and the PCI, that the union health ministry is planning to start a refresher course for unqualified medical store workers, the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) has wanted the government to take steps to stop such rumors and ensure qualified pharmacists in pharmacies while medicines are dispensed.

The Association has written to the government in the context of certain pharmaceutical trade bodies approaching the union health ministry with a proposal for refresher  course for non-pharmacist  medical store workers to enable them to be licence holders for retail pharma business, sources from IPA informed Pharmabiz.

IPA, in its letter addressed to the union health and family welfare minister, J P Nadda, has also wanted the government to enforce the drug act and pharmacy act strictly in the country and avoid the steps, if any taken, to start short term course for medical store workers.  The letter was signed by Kaushik Desai, the honorary general secretary of the IPA.

Stressing the need for adequate number of qualified pharmacists, Kaushik Desai in his letter said the government should initiate steps to overcome the problem of shortage of registered pharmacists in certain locations, if any, as has been reported by the trade bodies. According to Suresh Gupta, general secretary of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), certain north Indian states and the entire part of the north east are facing shortages of qualified pharmacists. He said he is in discussion with concerned enforcement authorities in each state and also with the central agencies for a concrete solution to this burning issue. But pharmacist associations from north-east have clarified that there is excess of registered pharmacists and unemployment is there.

Sources close to the central health ministry have informed Pharmabiz that the union ministry will go for an amendment of the pharmacy act and the D&C Act in order to conduct short term training courses for unqualified persons working in pharmacies to enable them to access legal licences for running pharmacies. This proposal was made before the government by the AIOCD after holding discussion with the president of the PCI. If government agrees to conduct the training course, PCI will take up the responsibility and issue certificates by holding classes under its recognized colleges. However, the president of the PCI, Dr B Suresh, has not responded to the problem yet, and his silence leaves the speculation that the Pharmacy Council of India is also supporting the proposal of the AIOCD.

IPA has urged the Union minister to avoid all speculations arising out of the issue from all corners of the country. The association has apprised the minister that as per the Pharmacy Act 1948 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945, it is mandated that only a registered pharmacist can dispense or supervise the dispensing of medicines from a medical store. Similarly, licence can be obtained for a pharmacy only after ensuring the services of a registered pharmacist. However, Desai in his letter says that unqualified persons but suitably trained can be acceptable as assistants to the registered pharmacists, not as licence holders. He said universally the role of pharmacists is well established as a healthcare professional who serves as a link between the doctor and the patient.

The letter points out that there are almost 1,500 pharmacy institutions producing more than one lakh pharmacists in India. If shortage of pharmacists is in any part of the country, the situation needs to be analyzed and a solution has to be found. But making the unqualified persons as ‘qualified’ is a dangerous act, further it will go against the right of the people to access proper healthcare. The pharmacist community in the country will object such move with all power.

Meanwhile, a pertinent question has arisen from the traders community.  Will the qualified and registered pharmacists be ready to work in the community pharmacies depending up on the revenue of the medical stores, supporting the business to be survived?, they ask.