The Indian Pharmacist Revolution Yatra has reached Andhra Pradesh and
has raised various issues pertaining to pharmacy profession and demanded
amendments in various aspects of Pharmacy Act in the country. The main
aim of the yatra is to create awareness about the role of pharmacists
among the people across the country. The yatra reached Hyderabad on
October 20, 2013.
According to Convenor of the yatra, Amitav
Joyprakash Choudhury, the main objective of this country wide yatra is
to create awareness among the people of this country about the role of
pharmacist in healthcare sector. Today the pharmacists have a major role
to play in the community pharmacy, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and
research.
The Udyog Development Foundation which began the yatra
on January 04, 2013 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has planned to tour
entire country from Kashmir to Kanyakurmari. As part of this yatra, the
Foundation is raising various issues concerning the pharmacy
professionals and seeking amendments to Food Safety & Standards Act
2011, Drug and Cosmetics Rules - 1945 (rule 64, 65, 71 and 76, Pharmacy
Act-1948, NIPER Act (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and
Research) and demanded formation of a separate Ministry of
Pharmaceuticals, and formation Indian Pharmaceutical Services in the
country.
The Indian Pharmacist Revolution has also demanded
employment generation for pharmacists in NRHM/Primary Health Centre
(PHC), Community Health Centre (CHC), Head Quarters Hospitals and
teaching Hospitals. It has also demanded formation of Central Register
of pharmacist done by Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
Till date
the foundation has already completed its tour visiting almost all the
Northern and Northeaster states. Starting from Jammu & Kashmir in
the North, the members of Udyog development foundation have travelled to
Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Uttarapradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Odisha, WestBengal, Sikkim,
Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya
Pradesh and now it has begun its tour in the south beginning with Andhra
Pradesh.
With this country wide yatra, the foundation is aiming
to spread the message of professional ethics and responsibility of the
pharmacists towards the society and strengthen the unity among the
Pharma professionals. “Today, there are lakhs of pharma professionals
spread across the country holding professional degrees such as D.
Pharm, B. Pharm, M. Pharm, M.S. Pharm, Pharm D, Ph.D. and working in
different organizations. Many more are freshly graduated every year, but
still there is lack of proper awareness about the profession among the
common people. Our aim is to highlight the national and state issues
relevant to the pharmacy profession and create awareness among the
common public,” says Amitav Joyproakash Choudhury.
