Pharmacy colleges in India have taken serious objection to the AIOCD move seeking  amendment of 65(15)(c) of Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Rules. Several members of  the profession pointed out that India, considered as the pharmacy of the world, may lose its image globally  in the area of drug dispensing if unqualified persons are allowed to dispense drugs at the retail counters with the proposed amendment.  “This is a retrograde step and we are moving backwards in this  profession by turning the clock in the reverse direction in the area of pharmacy trade,” they said.

Annually,  60,000 pharmacy graduates (B Pharm) and 40,000 D Pharm or diploma holders pass out of around  2,000 pharmacy colleges covering  11,000 institutions offering B Pharm, 400 colleges: D Pharm and 500 colleges: M Pharm. Therefore, there should be no dearth of qualified pharmacy professionals in the country. Moreover, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has mandated that continuing education programmes (CEP) to diploma holders,be imparted by the state pharmacy councils during their annual renewals.  

Pharmacy  colleges stated that every effort was made to ensure a D Pharm or B Pharma is armed with the required expertise in drug dispensing as the students receive the final certificate. PCI also commenced Pharm D which is a 6 year course for students to have the  right skills to take on global assignments

Expressing his displeasure on the AIOCD move, Dr Diwakar Goli, principal, Acharya College of Pharmacy said, “In the US only Pharm D qualified candidates are permitted to dispense drugs. On the contrary India, which known for its  capability in active pharmaceutical ingredients and generics manufacture is now  on a reverse gear as its national trade fraternity wants to permit proprietors of chemist shops to sell drugs. This is just unthinkable.”

“Medicines are not groceries. One needs knowledge and understanding of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In an age, where even qualified doctors  commit  medication errors, leading to  fatality, then what could be the position  of a chemist shop owner”, queried, Dr Goli, adding that AIOCD is confused and out of their  senses to call for such a move.

Airing similar displeasure was Dr TV Narayana,  chairman, education division, Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) & hon. secretary, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA) , who said that   pharmacy is a profession and not a small trade. The criticality of drug dispensing is serious because over  25 per cent of deaths reported come  from  medication errors. Under these circumstances, the role of a qualified pharmacist is seen as both  important and indispensable.

“Pharmacists are the first point of contact for patients even before he approaches a doctor or a  primary health centre. Only a  qualified hand at a chemist  counter can advise a  patient with a safe drug or if a  doctor consultation or hospital admission is required.  Going by changes in technology and onset of new diseases including the difficult to diagnose anti microbial infections, a pharmacist requires frequent knowledge updates.  There is need for ample understanding of dosage, adverse drug reaction, therapeutic drug monitoring and multi drug interaction. Even the  FIP Centennial Congress, Amsterdam in October 2012 deliberated on improving health through responsible medicines use and  highlighted wastage of $650 billion medicines due to inappropriate utilization. It saw  health ministers from across the globe and India ink a pact to  prevent drug wastage. Therefore we feel government will not concede to AIOCD demand,” said  Dr Narayana.