Pharmacist associations to move court demanding presence of pharmacists to be made mandatory
Drawing inspiration from the Kerala High Court Order of 23/08/2017 and from similar orders of various other High Courts, the association of government pharmacists in Punjab is gearing up to approach the High Court of Punjab and Haryana seeking a direction to the state government to allow only qualified and registered pharmacists to dispense drugs in the sub-centres. The State Programme Officer (SPO) of the Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) in Punjab issued a circular last month assigning Community Health Officers in the sub-centres to dispense medicines to the patients visiting there. Calling the circular as unjust and contrary to the existing drugs and pharmacy acts, Shubham Sharma, president of Association of Government Pharmacists of Punjab (Democratic) has written to the state health minister, health secretary and to the SPO of the HWC urging them to review the matter and ensure presence of pharmacists at the sub-centres. Since no positive response has come...