With a view to overcome the poor growth of pharmaceutical manufacturing business in Odisha, the Odisha Pharmacy Graduates Association (OPGA) has demanded the state government to frame an exclusive pharmaceutical industry policy for the state and set up a special economic zone (Pharma SEZ) somewhere near Bhubaneswar or Cuttack.

The Association led by its president Shakti Ketan Prusty, met the state health minister and explained to him the needs of pharma manufacturing companies in the wake of increasing number of pharmacy graduates in the state.

They wanted the government to invite pharma industry people from neighbouring states to Odisha. If big MNCs come to the state and set up their manufacturing plants, the employment opportunities for the pharmacy graduates will increase. The minister has been requested to look into the possibility of creating a separate department for monitoring the quality of drugs and healthcare.

The pharmacists group also briefed the minister about the grievances of the unemployed pharmacists about the redundancy.

Further, OPGA sought the intervention of the state government for attracting the attention of union government into the burning problem of inclusion of degree in pharmacy as a basic qualification for appearing civil services examinations conducted by UPSC and OPSC. According to them, the inclusion will help the pharma professionals to offer their services to the nation as public servants.

OPGA conducted a signature campaign during the ‘World Pharmacists Day’ last month.