Even as the hospital pharmacists under various state governments are going ahead with their demand for amendment of recruitment rules for selection of pharmacists by fixing degree (B Pharm) as the minimum qualification, unemployed diploma holders in pharmacy (D Pharm), especially from states where degree colleges are less or nil, oppose the move of the government dispensers.

Unemployed D Pharm holders are of the opinion that the state government pharmacists are making such a demand in order to avail more promotional avenues and salary when thousands of diploma holders are looking for job opportunities. Instead of upgrading the qualification, they said, the government must raise the pay scale and benefits of the pharmacists.

“As per Drugs and Cosmetics Act, for pharmacy profession in hospitals, D Pharm is the prescribed qualification and those who pass the course attain enough knowledge in dispensing a drug to a patient. B Pharm course was designed not for dispensing in pharmacies, but for industry purpose. Practice, experience and in-service trainings will make the diploma holders full-fledged pharmacists. Now senior level pharmacists are demanding upgrading of qualifications because they are eying for higher positions in the department, and not for service to the society”, said a diploma pharmacist from Patna in Bihar in anonymity.

He said the north Indian states lack even the qualified diploma holders and the situation in Bihar is very pathetic. There are only five thousand registered pharmacists, but more than fifty thousand medical stores. This shows the fact that there is shortage for even the diploma holders.

Meanwhile, the fifth national conference of the state government pharmacists is planning to pass a resolution demanding the government to make B Pharm as the basic qualification to work as pharmacist. They want that government should gradually stop D Pharm, and in place, make B Pharm as the entry level pharmacy course in pharmacy. Similarly, without delay all the state governments should introduce the bridge course, Bachelor of Pharmacy Practice, for the working pharmacists.

Arun Kumar, Additional General Secretary of Haryana Government Pharmacists Association, said in the wake of PPR 2015, pharmacists have become an important part in the healthcare management and prevention of diseases. Earlier they had opportunity only for dispensing medicines, now they are supposed to give counseling to the patients, know their profiles and document the diseases and medications.

“Checking drug dosage, drug-drug interactions, drug-allergy interactions and drug food interactions..etc are now part of pharmacists’ job. All these are not possible for the diploma holders as they study only few lessons of pharmaceutical science.  Government of India has now provided them opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and education through the two year bridge course which is part-time week-end course. I am also ready to do it”, he said.

Goverdhan Yoga, Railway Pharmacist in Mysore, commented that it is mandatory to uplift the academic status of the diploma holders to degree level, especially for the pharmacists in the hospitals. Even if high academic qualifications are achieved, in clinical sector, experience is the vital aspect of the profession. The diploma holders should wholeheartedly come forward to do the relevant bridge course introduced by the PCI as it will give social and economical status to the pharmacists.

He justified his point by saying that most of the diploma nurses in the central health services have upgraded their educational qualifications to degree. Similarly, the pharmacy professionals should also upgrade their qualification.

Nayaz Ahmad, president of government pharmacists’ association, Bangalore Rural, said the profession of pharmacy needs knowledge and higher status as the practicing dispensers need to compete with the developments in the practice sector. So the pharmacy council of India should make it mandatory for all pharmacists to have bridge course for raising their qualification. B Pharm should be made the basic qualification.

According to Munindra Chandra Deka, president of Assam Pharmacy Council, the Pharmacy Council of India should take a decision to upgrade the basic qualification of pharmacists and gradually the diploma courses should be closed. It seems that the diploma holders should go for the bridge course after they get appointed in service. Closing down the courses and institutions will make big loss to the state exchequer.

Dr TNK Prakash, principal of Al Shifa College of Pharmacy in Kerala said it is high time for the government of India to think of upgrading the qualification of pharmacists who are one of the baton holders of health sector. B Pharm should be made as the minimum educational qualification to work as pharmacist. It is evident that the health care sector in south India is better administered for the simple reason that most of the hospitals have pharmacists with either degree or diploma, and in some hospitals Pharm D graduates are also appointed with different responsibilities.`

Meanwhile, the AICTE has received nearly 600 applications for setting up new colleges for pharmacy in this academic year, out of which majority are for D Pharm course.