Pharmacists oppose Punjab govt's decision to assign drug dispensing rights to CHOs in sub-centres
The decision of the Punjab health department to assign drug dispensing rights to Community Health Officers (CHOs) in charge of sub-centres in rural areas has come in for severe criticism from the pharmacists working in the government sector. The pharmacists have registered their stiff opposition against the circular issued in this regard by the state programme officer (SPO) of the Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs). Pharmacy activists and associations of working pharmacists have wanted the authorities to review the decision and re-plan the duties assigned to the CHOs by giving the dispensing rights to the pharmacists. They have given memorandum to the chief secretary, health secretary and the programme officer of HWCs and urged them to delete Clause 3 in the circular which empowers the CHOs to dispense drugs as per the standing orders of medical officers. While assigning duties to the CHOs in the sub centres, the SPO of the Health & Wellness Centres has given drug ...