Pharm D professionals should be incorporated under NMC bill ~ Revolution PharmD

HYDERABAD: Doctor of Pharmacy Association, shot off a letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday, seeking creation of posts for clinical pharmacists and drug information specialists. As per the association there are no posts in hospitals for this cadre, despite a large number of passouts and students currently pursuing Pharm D course. There are approximately 10,000 Pharm D pass-outs and 56,000 students across India.

The members stated that Pharm D professionals should be incorporated under National Medical Commission Bill. Presenting their case for creating of clinical pharmacist cadre in each hospital, as per the bed strength, the association wrote: “There is strong evidence this is a safe, convenient and cost effective solution to address the healthcare needs of the nation. Pharmacists can immunize, reissue prescriptions for long term conditions in the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Egypt and Ireland. In most cases a doctor makes a diagnosis and initiates the treatment and a care plan is shared with the pharmacist. The government must include Pharm D professionals for bridge course as the syllabus includes almost all topics of modern system medicine except diagnosis and surgery.”