The discussions and deliberations held along with the 49th National pharmacy week celebration in Chennai have virtually helped the dispensing pharmacists to review the safety measures being taken by them while dealing with drugs.

The pharma industry experts and academia observed that safety monitoring of drugs is key to public health and that is the responsibility of the pharmacists. The seminar was organized by IPA Tamil Nadu chapter and the Tamil Nadu pharmaceutical welfare Trust.

According to K Allauddin, principal secretary to the government of Tamil Nadu, pharmacists are responsible to maintain the moral and ethical standards of pharmacy profession.  They should discourage the self-medication by people and not dispense the essential and scheduled drugs without prescription.  Pharmacists should also ensure the use of quality medicines by patients from all the strata in the society.

Dr B Suresh, president of Pharmacy Council of India said the PCI has drafted a Pharmacy Practice Regulation which envisages the role and responsibilities of pharmacists. The draft was sent to all states and the council is receiving the feedback and soon it is likely to become a rule. He further said specialist pharmacists have very good opportunities at present and advance level specialization is the need of the hour. He exhorted the pharmacist community to be the advocates of the latest slogan, “wherever the term pharmacy is discussed, pharmacist should be there”.

The director of drugs control department, M Bhaskaran, observed that the working pharmacists as well as the community pharmacists have a very good role in keeping the safety of medicines. The retail pharmacists must be aware of the rules of pharmacy practice and update their knowledge with what is happening in the trade and manufacturing industry.

During his inaugural address, M M Yousuf, vice-president of TN-IPA opined that the pharmacists should take it as a responsibility to give awareness and safety information to the people who receive medicines from them.

Dr G Parthasarathi, HoD, department of clinical pharmacy, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootty while delivering the lecture on the theme “Safety First with Medicines, Ask your Pharmacist”, said, the prime role of a pharmacist is to promote the safe use of medication and he should always be in the pursuit of new medications. Since medicines are primarily commercial products, the concept of safety should be in balancing the benefit and the risk.

In his welcome address, J Jayaseelan, secretary, Tamil Nadu IPA said Indian pharmaceutical industry is passing through its golden period now and the pharmacists are drug experts as they have role from invention to dispensing to patients. Rajesh Bhandari, treasurer TN-IPA proposed vote of thanks to the audience.

In the meeting, TN pharmaceutical welfare trust distributed awards to pharmacy students and academicians.