India Needs Pharmacy Policy

?India needs three policies at a time starting from pharmacy policy, Pharma policy and Pharma export policy. In this article I will discuss only about pharmacy policy. After 75 years of independence there is no place for pharmacists in Indian Healthcare System the way NIH, United Kingdom has given privilege. Defense System of any country depends on Air force, Navy and Army. Noteworthy our healthcare system should follow the same way- Pharmacists, Doctors and Nurses. This type of healthcare system is everywhere in the world except in India.

According to golden text book of medicine Goodman Gillman, Harrison and Martindale a pharmacist must prescribe medicine, a doctor must diagnose disease and a nurse should coordinate with pharmacists, doctors and patients. Here in India there is a combo of doctors and nurses only and pharmacists takes care retail pharmacy. In United Kingdom PDN (Pharmacists, Doctors & Nurses) go for round together. Pharmacists prescribe medicine after diagnosis and follows up patient at least 3-4 times in a day that nurses are giving medicine as per recommendation. Noteworthy medicine is a double edged sword; either saves life or kills life if not taken care properly by pharmacists.

Doctors in United Kingdom takes suggestion from Pharmacists regarding dosage, drug interaction, side effects. There is a system in NHS, UK that a doctor can asks question with pharmacists and can share that question on NH system. NHS forward questions to 5 pharmacists and whosoever replies first gets 10 pound then there. But in India a pharmacist is no more than a compounder. Without pharmacists our healthcare system is meaningless.

There are 24029 AICTE approved Pharmacy colleges in India but most of the colleges are not providing skilled education as per the demand of industry that is why there are serious skill crunch in India and globally. Apart from AICTE approved colleges there are many colleges that are still not approved. Pharmacy colleges’ syllabus should be as per demand and supply of Industry so that everyone should get employment immediately. Mostly pharmacy colleges believe in giving the degree to the students. Students on the other hand remained planned to get the job after getting the degree. Not a single college in India that gives vision to the students about entrepreneurship. There should be mix of job seekers and job creators to balance the demand and supply in terms of jobs.

Government gives jobs to diploma of pharmacy and for the same post B.Pharma, M.Pharma and PhD in Pharma apply to get a job. In UK and US pharmacists are highest paid profession in comparison to doctors and nurses. NHS of UK is the best healthcare service provider in the world and the pharmacy practices are the best in the world in two countries UK and USA.

ISSUES & SOLUTION

1.?????SYLABUS: It should be based on demand and supply

2.?????SPECIALIZATION: B.Pharma students should have at least three specializations like MBA. MBA offers specialization in HR, Marketing and Sales. In the same way B.Pharma students should adopt specialization in Product Management, Regulatory Management & Pharmacovigilance or QC/QA & Production or Product Development, Licensing & Documentation or Retail, Marketing & Drug & Cosmatics Act or Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Study or Regulatory, Licensing & Artwork Development or Regulatory, Licensing and IPR.

3.?????INDUSTRIAL TRAINING: There should be one year industrial training for B.Pharma students to get the current skilled education and they can continue with the same company if they want to continue as an employee or else they can go ahead for higher education. This way there would be no unemployment issue after passing the B.Pharma.

4.?????CAREER COUNSELLING: It is need of the hour

5.?????BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: There should be one subject business management and trainer should connect students with entrepreneurs so that they can plan career as per expectation. They can plan career in domestic business and export business

6.?????INTERVIEW TRAINING: Students should be trained to get job or to enter into business. Students should be trained for both business and jobs. They should be trained for designing professional resume.

7.?????Vacancies: There should be vacancies for diploma holders, degree holders, masters and PhD

8.?????Designation: There should be separate designation for diploma, degree and masters. Diploma holders should be designate as assistant pharmacist, degree holder should be designate as pharmacists and masters should be designate as pharmacologist.

9.?????Drug Inspector for colleges: These drug inspectors will check the quality education in almost every colleges of India

10.?Mandatory Workshop: Every month there should be one interactive session by entrepreneurs and not by the non business people so that students can plan his or her career in business.

By Mohammad Shahbaz Alam

President Rab Di Meher

Chief Organizer Pharma Ratna Award

CMD Meher Pharma International

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