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A major drive to elevate the role of pharmacists in Jharkhand’s healthcare system was launched on September 25 during World Pharmacist Day celebrations held at the Om Sadashiva College of Pharmacy in Deoghar district in Jharkhand.
In the event, the pharmacists demanded the recognition of B. Pharm graduates for limited license to practice medicine under Section 32 of National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
The event, which honoured eleven distinguished pharmacists working across various sectors including AIIMS, government hospitals, and community pharmacy, culminated in the passing of two significant resolutions aimed at strengthening public health and professional recognition of pharmacists in the state.
The principal of the college, Dr. Santosh Kumar Jha, formally submitted these resolutions on September 26 to the president of the Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA) Jharkhand state branch. The letter requested the IPGA to do the needful so that these important resolutions should be implemented by the Jharkhand government. The urgent plea from the house of Om Sadashiva College of Pharmacy signals a growing demand from pharmacy professionals to modernize practice standards.
The first resolution specifically targets the Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR) 2015, which were notified by the Pharmacy Council of India to strengthen the professional role of pharmacists in patient care, rational use of medicines, and overall improvement of healthcare services. The resolution serves as a pointed reminder that these critical regulations have not yet been implemented by the government of Jharkhand.
This lack of action, according to the resolution, is limiting the contribution of community pharmacists and other pharmacy professionals to public health. Therefore, the resolution formally calls for the IPGA to earnestly pursue with the state government for immediate and full implementation of the PPR 2015, emphasizing that this measure is fundamentally in the larger interest of patient safety and the advancement of the pharmacy profession.
The second, more impactful resolution addresses a highly debated topic, the ‘Recognition of B. Pharm Graduates for Limited License to practice medicine under Section 32 of National Medical Commission Act, 2019’. This demand seeks to leverage a provision in the NMC Act that allows for the granting of a limited license to suitably qualified mid-level practitioners to enhance accessibility of healthcare services, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
The college asserts that B. Pharm graduates are scientifically equipped for this mid-level role. They highlight the extensive education these graduates receive in crucial areas such as pharmacology, therapeutics, toxicology, dose calculation and patient care, arguing that this knowledge base provides the necessary foundation to competently discharge mid-level medical responsibilities.
Ultimately, the collective voice of pharmacists, formalized through the resolutions adopted on September 25, challenges the existing norms and urges the IPGA to petition the government of Jharkhand and relevant authorities to recognize B. Pharm graduates as eligible for the limited license, thereby helping to bridge the healthcare gap in the state.
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