Despite protest by state government pharmacists a couple of months back on discriminatory pay scales among state and central government employees, no decision was taken in this regard and pharmacists are still waiting for a favourable response.

The indefinite strike which started on June 1, 2014 and further postponed on humanitarian grounds relates to revision in government provisions for promotional avenues, appointment of around 3000 state government pharmacists and pharmacy officers for rural hospital in the state for effective enforcement of Pharmacy Act, 1948.

Explains Satish Dhotre, president, Maharashtra Rajya Zila Parishad Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana, "Our demand is very much relevant considering the fact that there is a shortage of around 3000 state government pharmacists for dispensing of medicines at 34 district hospitals, 350 rural hospitals and around 1809 Primary Health Centres (PHCs). There is also a need for appointment of two Pharmacy Officers for each 30 bed rural hospital in the state for effective enforcement of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948."

Maharashtra state health department had issued a notice in the first week of July 2014 to the agitating state government pharmacists for compliance to Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) following which the pharmacists had called off the strike.

Pharmacists rue that the state government pharmacists put in long hours beyond the eight hour duty time at state run health institutions in district and rural areas but are yet not paid on par with what is being availed by the central government pharmacists. They want the current pay scale of Rs. 5,200 (basic pay) Rs. 2,800 (grade pay) to be upgraded to the central government's pay scale of Rs. 9,300 (basic pay) Rs. 4,200 (grade pay).

Says Arun Thengre, president, Gatak Karmachari Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana, "The government should also introduce a Bridge Course in Pharmacy for upgrading the knowledge of pharmacy officers and regularise those who have been recruited on contractual basis under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) besides revising their salary as per the demands submitted to the state government."