With a view to enforce Pharmacy Act strictly in the state, the Kerala Pharmacy Council has made a proposal to the government seeking endorsement for Council’s decision to appoint seven more pharmacy inspectors.

Once the government approves the proposal, the total number of pharmacy inspectors under the Council will rise to 14 with one inspector for one district. Currently, one inspector is taking care of two districts to supervise the functioning of pharmacies, said B Rajan, the newly elected president of Kerala Pharmacy Council.

After the constitution of the present Council, a crucial decision was taken in its first sitting that section 42 of Pharmacy Act should be strictly implemented all over the state, for which procedures will be started soon. Without a registered pharmacist, no pharmacy should be allowed to function, whether in hospitals or in community levels. All the pharmacies will be brought under the supervision and monitoring of a pharmacy inspector.

When asked whether supervision of pharmacy inspectors will clash with the inspection of drug inspectors, Rajan said pharmacy council is implementing Pharmacy Act and the drug control department is enforcing Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Act.

“We check whether a pharmacy is working under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist. Further, presence of the pharmacist should always be in the dispensing area. Gradually, section 48 mandating pharmacist in uniform will also be implemented. Each district will have one pharmacy inspector with separate office. Kerala will be the first state in the country to have pharmacy inspectors in all the districts,” he commented.

Another important decision the Council has taken is that it will conduct continuing pharmacy education program for the practising pharmacists both in the government and private sectors. To implement this programme, separate Pharmacy Council Forums will be formed in district wise. The next Council meeting that is scheduled for the 31st of this month will finalize the decision regarding this, he told Pharmabiz.

The Council will publish the draft electoral roll for electing six members to the Council on January 31. The tenure of the elected members was already expired in 2008.

Nominated members other than the president are K M Isahaq, UK Manu, Stanely Daniel and S Ramabhadran. President is also the nominee from Kerala to the Pharmacy Council of India. The new office-bearers of the Council took over charge last month.