Even though doctors are the primary leaders in the healthcare management system, the role of pharmacists is very significant in the present healthcare scenario across the world, opined J Radhakrishnan, health secretary, government of Tamil Nadu.

Inaugurating the pharmacy week celebration organised by Tamil Nadu IPA, the doctor turned health secretary said the pharmacists should not allow their potential and opportunities to be limited or confined to the small space of a dispensing centre. “You should not limit your opportunities and potential within the purview of a pharmacy, the profession has an important role, but it has to be updated with the latest research and knowledge happening in the field,” he said.

G Selvaraju, the state drugs control director, who has been awarded the “Best Pharmacist Award of 2012” by IPA, said the National Pharmaceutical Policy will help reduce the prices of drugs in the country. Based on the new policy, the government of Tamil Nadu has already implemented some strategies mentioned in the policy with provision of direct healthcare to citizens by expanding healthcare coverage through the state healthcare system in combination with an insurance cover based healthcare system.

The director clarified that with the increasing R&D expenditures, the Indian pharma sector has became a cost-effective centre for world class research and  also for contract R&D. Currently, due to more emphasize on healthcare segment by all the nations, drugs & pharmaceutics are going to be the first priority. The increased budgetary allocations for more Research & Development activities, for discovery of novel drugs and intermediates by every pharmaceutical corporation are a reality.

Delivering the keynote address on the celebration’s theme ‘pharmacists in public health’, TN IPA secretary J Jayaseelan said pharmacy is the only curriculum that teaches about drugs. So, from invention to dispensing, the pharmacists know all about the drugs.

Tamil Nadu pharmacy council president Dr K Chinnaswamy and president of TN IPA M M Yusuf also spoke on the occasion.