In a major suggestion that may, to an extent, solve the problem of redundancy faced by the qualified pharmacists in Kerala, the state private pharmacists association (KPPA) has urged the state government to engage diploma holders and graduates in pharmacy to deliver free medicines to the rural public as part of social health projects of NRHM.

KPPA wanted the social welfare department of the government to consider their demand favourably and appoint qualified pharmacists in lieu of Accredited Social Health Activists or ASHA workers who are now doing the door-to-door dispensing work.

According to M Dineshan, the general secretary of the 15000 member organisation, the ASHA workers are delivering medicines door-to-door in rural areas, and a lion portion of the patients targeted are with life-style diseases and pregnant women. Recently the ASHA workers have started giving out DEC tablets (diethylcarbamazine citrate) for elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis). They are also distributing paracetamol, various antibiotics and even medicines to heart patients.

The association wanted the government to intervene in the drug distribution system of the NRHM projects in the rural areas and hold it under the supervision of pharmacists. The association is ready to cater to sufficient number of qualified pharmacists for the mission on contract basis. He said as per law, it is the duty of the pharmacists to dispense the drugs to the needy.

The medicines are supplied by government for free in rural areas, but the targeted beneficiaries are not provided with proper awareness about the medicines and their usage. If a pharmacist is authorised to deliver the drugs, he or she would educate the consumer how to go with the medication and its adverse effects.

With this demand, KPPA will hold an agitation in Kozhikodu on October 18, Dineshan said.