Udyog Development Foundation (UDF), a not for profit organisation which concluded the Indian Pharmacists Revolution (IPR) Yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari on January 4, 2014 is planning to identify and empower pharmacist volunteers, from amongst the members of trade association bodies, all over India covering 600 districts and six lakh villages to monitor and report the illegal practice of drug dispensing by unqualified people.

The suggestion would be put forward in the forthcoming meeting of UDF members with Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) scheduled to be held on February 26, 2014.

According to the IPR Yatra findings, UDF found out that most of the pharmacists running drug stores in the country do not understand Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act and there were absence of pharmacists in most of the retail drug stores.

In order to reiterate the point that life saving drugs are not chocolates and biscuits and that pharmacist's license plays a vital role in drug trade, UDF advocates that pharmacists registration process and drug licensing should be made online across the country.

Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) should strengthen itself to govern state pharmacy councils effectively. A meeting between IPR Yatra pharmacists and Dr B Suresh, president, PCI was held in October, 2013 in Mysore in which certain issues were raised like the need to strengthen each state pharmacy council in the country with the introduction of an online registration process, appointment of pharmacy inspectors, amendments in Pharmacy Act and the implementation of Pharmacy Practice Regulation.

Explains IPR Yatra convener Amitav J Choudhary, "Kerala State Pharmacy Council was found to be an ideal state pharmacy council in India and Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is strictly implementing the D&C Act. Therefore other states need to follow the same pattern. Among other relevant issues to be raised are that D&C Act and Drug and Magic Remedies Act are not strictly implemented in our country. In order to implement it, drug license issuance to traders need to be done online through out the country and linkages should be developed between state pharmacy councils and PCI."

He concludes, "Pharmacists can play a big role in drug stores by discouraging irrational use of medicine which if not followed can lead to adverse drug reactions, toxicity and contra indication thus affecting patient’s life."