GSPC wants PCI to develop strategy to recognize pharmacists as trusted healthcare providers after doctors
The Gujarat State Pharmacy Council (GSPC) has wanted the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to develop a strategic plan towards achieving recognition of professional status of pharmacists at national level as trusted healthcare providers after medical professionals, in the entire healthcare system.
In the background of upswing in COVID-19 infections in western countries, the respective government in each country in the west has recognized the various roles of pharmacists and their services were given deserving importance. They are considered as one of the frontline healthcare providers. But in India, their status is underrated, says a letter written to the president of the PCI by Montu Kumar Patel, president of GSPC.
GSPC has put forth this demand to the PCI by considering the increasing demand for Indian medicines by US, Russia and other western countries which are experiencing escalation in COVID-19 infections. Including western nations, many countries in the world make appeal for Indian made drugs to survive the present critical situation and they trust in the quality of the drugs made in India. These countries recognize the value of the pharmacy profession and think that, from the beginning to the end, the manufacturing process is passing through the hands of qualified pharmacists in Indian factories.
Montu Patel apprised the president of the PCI, Dr B Suresh, that during this COVID period, the US government has permitted their pharmacists to conduct COVID-19 testing in hospital attached pharmacies. This can be taken as a token of recognition for the pharmacists from the government side. Unfortunately, Indian pharmacists are deprived of this kind of recognition and they are disappointed in many ways. Patel says that this refusal to acknowledge the services of pharmacists by the rulers is due to lack of proper pressure from the pharmacy council on healthcare managers who distribute the services of government among various professionals. Pharmacists are sidelined in the COVID-19 prevention activities in India, he alleges.
The president of the GSPC has further wanted Dr Suresh to focus his attention on all aspects of the pharmacy sector rather than sticking only on education side. Patel, who is basically an industrial pharmacist in Ahmedabad, said the central pharmacy council should prepare a set of developmental plans with regard to employment opportunities for pharmacists in industry. Apart from education and practice sides, PCI should intervene in the manufacturing side to promote quality production of medicines.
While speaking to Pharmabiz, he said Gujarat Pharmacy Council is indulging in industrial matters as Gujarat is the state having the largest number of pharmaceutical companies which employ people with pharmacy background in all areas of drug production. In the same way, PCI should develop growth plans for pharmacists to make them become professionals in industry.
Regarding quality of Indian made drugs, Patel said fifty percent of the generic drug manufactured in the country is sold all over the world and they meet all quality standards that ensure every dose of a drug is of the appropriate strength and free of contamination and defects. Pharmacists have to play a good role in industry, but no agency is there to advocate for their involvement in all spheres of medicine production and to ensure pharmacist’s presence in industry as a vital part in the process of drug production. PCI should come forward to take this responsibility to promote quality production process involving pharmacists.
According to Patel, if PCI continues to stick on regulation of education and pharmacy practice only, the increasing space of employment for pharmacists on production side will be controlled by people with non-pharmacy background. Pharmacy Council of India has to become the only one superior authority to control all pharma related activities including manufacturing of medicines.
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