PharmD students' in Aurangabad on hunger strike
Students of the six-year doctor of pharmacy (Pharm D) course,
who began their hunger strike on January 1, said authorities were not taking
their demands seriously. Students have camped opposite the office of divisional
commissioner for the last four days, seeking the creation of a clinical
pharmacist cadre in the state government and stipend for students on
internship.
As many 130 students are participating in the agitation. Five
are sitting on hunger strike. The students submitted their memorandum to the
divisional commissioner and have also written to the prime minister with copies
marked to various state and Central ministries.
The Government College of Pharmacy at Aurangabad and at Amrawati
in Maharashtra are the only state-run colleges in the country which are
offering the course with approval from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
Currently, the two colleges have close to 360 students; four batches have already
passed out. There are, however, not enough qualified and trained faculty to teach
the course. There is also an absence of infrastructure and inability to comply
with PCI guidelines.
Protesting the absence of manpower and infrastructure, students
have staged several protests at the college and in front of the office of the
district collector.
Student leader Ramprasad Nagare said the issues related to the
course impact healthcare services. “Pharm
D course makes us eligible to work as clinical pharmacists who play important
role in monitoring drug dosage, identifying adverse drug reaction, patient
counselling and prognosis,” he said.
Joint director (technical education) Mahesh Shivankar visited
the students on Friday, accompanied by the principal and four lecturers.
Shivankar said his office, the college and the government have taken cognizance
of the demands of students.
“The Pharm D students are
now included in scholarship. As far as filling of posts is concerned, since it
is a government college, the posts will have to be filled through MPSC, which
will take time. But it is in active consideration with the government,” Shivankar
said, adding that the technical education department has written to the health
department seeking creation of the clinical pharmacist post. “These are teething troubles since it is a
new course,” he said. Students, however, said there was no question of
calling off their protest unless they got an assurance in writing about action
that will be taken in a stipulated time.
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