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In a significant state-wide initiative, the Tamil Nadu state branch of the Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA) is set to lead the celebrations for World Pharmacists Day (WPD) 2025, uniting the pharmacy community across the state.
The main events will be held in Chennai and Coimbatore, serving as hubs for a comprehensive programme designed to highlight the crucial role of pharmacists in the healthcare ecosystem. The celebrations will underscore the theme, ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’, aiming to elevate the profession's profile and its contribution to public well-being.
According to Dr. G Selvaraju, president of the TN IPGA, the inaugural event is scheduled to take place on September 25, at the Pharmacy Seminar Hall of Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research (BIHER) at Selaiyur in Chennai. The programme will include addresses by academic and industry leaders, and a special theme talk on the importance of pharmacists as healthcare partners. The event’s chief guest will be Dr. S. V. Veeramani, chairman and managing director of Fourrts (India) Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, while the chief patron will be R. Narayanasamy, former Joint Drugs Controller of India.
Simultaneously, celebrations will also be hosted at Meenakshi College of Pharmacy at Thandalam in Chennai, further cementing the city as a focal point of the state-wide programme.
The event at Meenakshi College will feature Dr. G. Selvaraj, president of TN IPGA, as the chief guest, reinforcing the IPGA's central role in orchestrating these events. The programme will include addresses from college officials and a question-hour session dedicated to the IPGA, providing a platform for direct engagement with students and teachers.
Extending the celebrations to other parts of the state, a second major event is scheduled for September 27 at the Conference Hall of the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) in Coimbatore. This event, jointly organized by the IPGA and Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, will feature prominent figures from the healthcare and regulatory sectors, including Dr V Kalaiselvan, secretary-cum-scientific director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), and S. Marimuthu, Assistant Director of Drugs Control, Coimbatore Zone.
Sharing information with Pharmabiz, Dr. Selvaraju said, a defining feature of this state-wide initiative is the widespread participation of all pharmacy colleges, teachers, and students of pharmacy from across Tamil Nadu. The events in Chennai and Coimbatore are serving as central points for a coordinated effort to engage the entire academic community in celebrating the profession. This broad participation highlights the IPGA's successful outreach and its commitment to fostering a strong, unified professional network within the state.
The overarching theme of ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’, is a call to recognize the evolving responsibilities of pharmacists. The programme schedules from both locations include talks and discussions that go beyond the traditional role of dispensing medication. The focus will be on the pharmacist's modern functions as a knowledgeable health advisor, an integral part of the healthcare team, and a key player in ensuring patient safety and promoting medication adherence.
According to him, the TN IPGA’s initiative is a powerful testament to the growing importance and unity of the pharmacy profession in Tamil Nadu. By organizing significant events in both Chennai and Coimbatore, the association is not only celebrating a global day but also creating a robust platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development.
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