Assam Pharmacy Council must take action against fake pharmacists: AAPP

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Association of Advanced Pharmacy Practitioners (AAPP) has demanded that the Assam Pharmacy Council (APC) must take action against those pharmacists whose registration it had cancelled recently.

According to reports, the APC cancelled the registration of 1,810 pharmacists. However, the AAPP said that these pharmacists are still working in pharmacies. AAPP president BK Barman said, according to the order of the High Court, after scrutiny the APC cancelled the registration of 1,810 pharmacists. But, the pharmacies employing the fake pharmacists are still running.

The AAPP demanded the council and State drug administration to inspect and take stern actions against the pharmacies and pharmacists.

"Being a pharmacist is a health-oriented service. But it has become business-oriented. Pharmacies are full of spurious drugs and their timely inspection is necessary," said Barman.

The AAPP appealed to the government to scrutinize the number of non-registered pharmacies in the State.

"As most of the pharmacies have salesman instead of pharmacists, people should be aware and inquire about available pharmacists," Barman advised.

He further said that while observing the National Pharmacy Week from November 16 to 22, the AAPP staged candle light demonstrations to highlight their various demands.

Some of the other demands of the body are:

* Stop the business of issuing degree/diploma of pharmacy in exchange of money

* Constitute a high-level inquiry committee under Section-45 of the Pharmacy Act 1948.

* The upper age limit must be fixed on 25 years for admission into pharmacy courses.

* Immediate implementation of Entrance (under National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) and Exit Examination in Pharmacy and also to implement Pharmacists Registration Tracking System as early as possible.

* Implementation of a new prescription format as per MCI guidelines and implement PPR-2015.

* Resolve pay anomalies and proper cadre restructure of pharmacists working in different department in government sector.

* Grant pay working in NHM pharmacists as per basic pay of the Central government and issue ESI health card to them.

* Solve the issues of the tea garden pharmacists.

* Arrange a round-table meeting with all authorities concerned, pharmacy associations in presence of the Health Minister.

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