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Pharmacists to launch postal campaign

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 23. A postcard campaign in which five lakh letters will be sent to the Prime Minister demanding rejection of the recommendations of the Pricing and Availability of Drugs/Pharmaceuticals report will be launched by the Federation of Indian Pharmacists Organisation from June 16 to 21.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee report suggested that the Government explore the possibilities of relaxing the provisions of the Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Pharmacy Act 1948, so that educated persons other than pharmacists would get better job opportunities to sell the medicines after some brief training.

``Some of the recommendations of the 29th report of the Standing Committee are unscientific and anti-people. Handling of medicines is a very technical and sensitive area. As patient counselling is also done regularly while selling medicines, it is important that a qualified person should be at the counter,'' said the Federation's general secretary, M.S. Arya, at a press conference here on Tuesday.

As per the twin Acts, a qualified pharmacist is essential to stock, sell or dispense any drug or pharmaceutical. In India, the minimum qualification for a registered pharmacist is Diploma in Pharmacy. And recently the Pharmacy Council of India, the statutory body to regulate the practice and profession of pharmacy, took steps to enhance the minimum qualification for a pharmacist from diploma to degree as suggested by the World Health Organisation.

``The recommendation cannot be justified as the committee did not seek advice of any statutory body on pharmacy. Only the drug companies and voluntary health services were consulted and the report is prepared to suit their needs,'' charged Mr. M.N.V.G. Adiyodi, the president of the Federation.

In the next stage of the campaign, the Federation will call for a nationwide "Pharmacy bandh'' in which pharmacy colleges, medical stores and hospital drug stores will remain closed throughout the country. The Federation has also decided to organise a march during the next session of Parliament. A large number of pharmacists from different parts of the country will take part in it hoping to stop the amendment.

``When the world is moving towards giving better health, the recommendations made in the Pricing and Availability of Drugs/Pharmaceuticals Report are aimed at taking us back to the 16th Century'' added Mr. Adiyodi.

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