Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) is planning to send a representation to the Ministry of Health by December end, urging it to take immediate steps to elaborate provisions of hospital pharmacy syllabus in the MBBS curriculum. IPA feels that only by doing so, can the MCI inspectors ensure full adherence of the existing provisions in all the medical colleges in the country.

The IPA pointed out that it is important to take steps to impart information specifically catering to hospital pharmacy among medical graduates for better management of the healthcare in the future. It further stressed that this will not only lead to rational use of medicines in the country but will also will ensure drug safety and quality assurance of medicines in hospitals.

According to Dr R N Gupta, chairman-Hospital Pharmacy Division, IPA, “We want to ensure that this profession is put into use in a pro-active manner for the benefit of the society as well as for pharmacy in general. Developing hospital pharmacy in the country will not only lead to a better healthcare system but also will help in generating jobs opportunities for the pharmacy graduates and post graduates in the hospitals and other areas. Widening the scope of it in the MBBS syllabus will also give rise to the demands for qualified pharmacists to impart knowledge to the medical students on the proper use of drugs in medical colleges as well.”

At present the sections in hospital pharmacy department deals with drug store inventory management, hospital formulary and drug procurement along with indoor dispensing and outdoor dispensing,  patient counselling, nuclear pharmacy etc.

Having a detailed focus on hospital pharmacy will help in proper procurement of medicines in hospital, manufacture and supply of medicines including those medicines that are needed in case of emergency or disaster. A  hospital pharmacist is also responsible for proper utilisation of medicines by patients due to patient counselling and ensure less hospitalisation of patients and reduction in stay time of patients in hospital.

“We want the government to ensure that only B Pharm, M Pharm, PhD, D Pharm and Pharm D students are appointed in the hospital for imparting better pharmacy services to the patients. All these measures will ensure that there is enough employment for trained and well qualified pharmacists that will simultaneously give rise to demand and credibility for this profession,” Dr Gupta pointed out.