Monday, 4 August 2025

Pharmacists are Healthcare Professionals or Pharmacare Professionals?

Pharmacists are HealthCare Professionals.

Lets be worth it.

Really!!!,  then why the term ' PharmaCare ' was coined.
Pharmacist A HealthCare professional? If so why pharmacy course is not?. Has the Pharmacy education been got included in National Health Education Manual?

Someone kindled me to define and explain who is Healthcare professional? Where does the Pharmacist fit in?

Healthcare Professional.

Someone kindled me to define and explain who is Healthcare professional? Where does the Pharmacist fit in?

Not an easy question in light of Second question.

Any professional who serves the humans to safeguard his / her health and serves to mitigate the suffering and assists and supports the patient to be as comfortable as possible and treats him directly and fecilitates treatment could be called healthcare professional or Health Worker. All put together could be called a Medical Team

[This is my own extempore definition, I am subject to correction]

Now coming to second question,
Where does the Pharmacist fit in to be called Healthcare professional?

Excluding Pharm D Pharmacists, considering prevailing scenario and practice in India  the Pharmacist looks like a supporter external to the Treatment team  only to dispense what is advised. 

Unless the Pharmacists update themselves  or Course content is updated to familiarise the students on healthcare practices in preventive and curative services Pharmacists of India may not gain the Healthcare Professional tag.

#PCI, #IPA, #APTI,

POV :Bhagwan PS


Pharmacists are HealthCare Professionals.

Lets be worth it.

Really!!!,  then why the term ' PharmaCare ' was coined.
Pharmacist A HealthCare professional? If so why pharmacy course is not?. Has the Pharmacy education been got included in National Health Education Manual?

A different POV : Pharmacists have failed to impress professionally and leave professional footprints in Healthcare Sector

A different POV : Pharmacists have failed to impress professionally and leave professional footprints in Healthcare Sector . Therefore requirement of a new course like Pharm D / Pharma D (PB), which will produce professionals called Pharmacist and Pharmacotherapist. 

Is it true ? Really!!! 


Pharmacists are HealthCare Professionals.

Lets be worth it.

Really!!!,  then why the term ' PharmaCare ' was coined.
Pharmacist A HealthCare professional? If so why pharmacy course is not?. Has the Pharmacy education been got included in National Health Education Manual?

Medical Science vs Pharmaceutical Science (Residential Program Year)


RPY: Residential Program Year

Pharmacy residency is education a pharmacist can pursue beyond the degree required for licensing as a pharmacist (in the United States of America: PharmD). A pharmacy residency program allows for the implementation of skill set and knowledge acquired in pharmacy school through interaction with the public either in a hospital setting or community practice.The program is done over a span of about two years after graduation from pharmacy school and licensure as a pharmacist. Pharmacy residency helps improve the resume of a pharmacist so as to increase chances of obtaining employment outside community practice. A 2022 review suggested that there is sufficient evidence that residency develops key competencies for junior pharmacists


In India, after completing a Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree, students can pursue residency programs to specialize in clinical pharmacy or related fields, enhancing their expertise and career prospects. These programs, often lasting one to two years, provide advanced training in areas like clinical pharmacy practice, patient care, and drug information. 

Details about Pharm.D. and Residency in India:
  • Pharm.D. as a Professional Qualification:
    The Pharm.D. is a professional doctorate recognized by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). It signifies expertise in pharmacy practice and allows graduates to become licensed pharmacists. 
  • Residency Programs:
  • Following the Pharm.D., residency programs offer specialized training in various clinical settings, such as hospitals and clinics. 
  • Focus Areas:
  • Residency programs can focus on areas like:
    • Clinical Pharmacy: Providing patient-centered care, medication therapy management, and drug information services. 
    • Critical Care: Managing patients in intensive care units, focusing on advanced life support and critical care protocols. 
    • Other Specializations: Opportunities may also exist in areas like oncology, cardiology, and infectious disease, depending on the specific program and institution. 
    • Career Paths:
  • Residency training can lead to various career opportunities, including:
    • Clinical Pharmacist Roles: In hospitals and other healthcare settings, directly involved in patient care. 
    • Medical Affairs: Bridging the gap between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals, providing scientific expertise and support. 
    • Research: Participating in clinical trials and research activities.   
    •  Duration:Residency programs typically last one to two years, depending on the specialization and institution. 
  • Benefits:Residency programs offer valuable practical experience, enhance clinical skills, and improve career prospects for Pharm.D. graduates. 




Residency Medicine

Residency or postgraduate training is a stage of graduate medical education. It refers to a qualified physician (one who holds the degree of MDDOMBBS/MBChB), veterinarian (DVM/VMDBVSc/BVMS), dentist (DDS or DMD), podiatrist (DPM), optometrist (OD), pharmacist (PharmD), or Medical Laboratory Scientist (Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science) who practices medicine or surgeryveterinary medicinedentistryoptometrypodiatryclinical pharmacy, or Clinical Laboratory Science, respectively, usually in a hospital or clinic, under the direct or indirect supervision of a senior medical clinician registered in that specialty such as an attending physician or consultant.


The term residency is named as such due to resident physicians (resident doctors) of the 19th century residing at the dormitories of the hospital in which they received training.[1]

In many jurisdictions, successful completion of such training is a requirement in order to obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine, and in particular a license to practice a chosen specialty. In the meantime, they practice "on" the license of their supervising physician. An individual engaged in such training may be referred to as a resident physicianhouse officerregistrar or trainee depending on the jurisdiction. Residency training may be followed by fellowship or sub-specialty training.[2]

Whereas medical school teaches physicians a broad range of medical knowledge, basic clinical skills, and supervised experience practicing medicine in a variety of fields, medical residency gives in-depth training within a specific branch of medicine.



In India, medical residency, also known as postgraduate training, typically lasts for 3 years after completing the MBBS degree. It's a period of intensive clinical training in a chosen specialty, preparing doctors for independent practice. The residency program is structured with academic coursework, clinical rotations in various departments, and research components, culminating in an MD or MS degree (depending on the specialty). 

Key aspects of medical residency in India:
  • Duration: Generally 3 years for most specialties, but can vary. 

  • Eligibility: Requires completion of MBBS and passing the NEET-PG exam. 

  • Structure: Includes clinical rotations, academic learning (case discussions, seminars, etc.), and research. 

  • Focus: Hands-on clinical experience and development of practical skills under supervision. 

  • Outcome: Leads to an MD or MS degree in the chosen specialty and prepares doctors for independent practice. 

  • Supervision: Residents work under the guidance of attending physicians and consultants. 

  • Workload: Residents typically work long hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. 

So many regulatory bodies and governing bodies in pharmacy education: whims of my mind

PCI(Pharmacy Council Of India) and AICTE(All India Council for technical education) are the governing bodies in the pharmacy education , keeping in mind the compounding and dispensing as well as the technical aspects involved in Pharmaceutical Engineering .

Now with the advent of Pharm D course in pharmacy, which is clinically oriented 6 years course in pharmacy and the syllabus is designed such as  first 3 years are same as B.Pharm ( compounding and dispensing oriented) and next 2 years are same as MD Pharmacology (medically and clinically oriented) and 1 year of internship in an attached (minimum- 300 beded) hospital , one may expect MCI (medical council of India) to get into the thick of the things/matters.

As it requires an affiliation with a  hospital( minimum 300 beded), to get approval for an pharmaceutical institute from PCI to conduct the course , one must expect MCI(medical council of India)(Now NMC) also to get involved as a regulatory and governing body.

PCI governs courses like : D.Pharm
                                         B.Pharm
                                        Pharm D and Pharm D(PB)

AICTE governs courses like : B.Pharm( jointly with PCI)
                                              M.Pharm

Now one must expect AICTE,PCI and MCI may jointly govern : Pharm D and Pharm D(PB)

But no, its not a rational thinking on my part. MCI (Now NMC ) will get involve only when the course is a medical one or may be when the professional doctor is dealing with a body part.
So, its fair enough that MCI(NMC) is not involved into these matters.

                                             

Digital Prescriptions are the solution

Handwritten prescriptions in India often pose significant risks due to their potential for misinterpretation. The diverse linguistic landscape of India, with multiple languages and scripts, adds to the complexity of deciphering these prescriptions accurately. Common issues include illegible handwriting, which can lead to confusion between drugs with similar names or incorrect dosing instructions. This is particularly problematic given the wide range of medications available and the critical importance of precise dosages.

Moreover, handwritten prescriptions sometimes lack essential information such as patient history, allergies, or specific instructions for drug administration. In a healthcare environment where pharmacists play a key role in the safe dispensing of medications, these omissions can lead to serious health risks.

The situation calls for a more robust system, possibly incorporating digital prescriptions, which can ensure clarity, accuracy, and traceability. Standardizing prescription formats and embracing electronic health records could greatly mitigate the risks associated with handwritten prescriptions, leading to safer and more effective patient care in the Indian context.

Sunday, 3 August 2025

Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India

Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India
On September 26, Madras High Court lawyer K Narasimhan alleged in his complaint to the DPIIT that e-commerce platform Flipkart is offering discounts at product level for select sellers and creating a non-competitive environment.
By  IMRAN FAZAL| Sep 27, 2024 8:44 AM

‘Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has referred a complaint against quick commerce companies to the CCI for further investigation.

Multiple retail trade associations and federations have written to the Indian government, expressing concerns that the growth of Q-commerce platforms is hurting their retail businesses. The Retailers Association of India (RAI) believes that instead of complaining about the rise of Q-commerce and e-commerce platforms, retailers should focus on upgrading themselves.

It's worth noting that several FMCG companies have reported strong double-digit growth in online sales through quick-commerce. According to a RedSeer report, the Q-commerce market is expected to reach $5.5 billion by 2025. The contribution of quick-commerce platforms to the online grocery market is projected to increase from 10% to 45% in the coming years. In 2023, the gross merchandise value (GMV) of quick commerce in India reached $2.3 billion, showing a growth of over 70% compared to the previous year.

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‘Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India
On the sidelines of the Retail Technology Conclave, ReTechCon 2024, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of the Retailers Association of India (RAI), spoke to Storyboard18 about the ongoing Q-commerce vs. Retailers conflict, which has now reached the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Addressing the allegations of unfair trade practices by Q-commerce and e-commerce platforms, Rajagopalan stated, “When it comes to unfair trade practices and allegations by retailers, we need to wait and see. The government has a mechanism to address such issues.”

Rajagopalan added, “As far as Q-commerce platforms are concerned, they are here to stay because customers are getting something they've always wanted. At RAI, we believe in creating a level playing field for all retailers, and the Indian government has already launched the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which will likely incorporate hyper-local and fast-commerce capabilities.”

He went on to say, “We are waiting for ONDC to improve further, and RAI is actively working with them. I believe that when your trusted local retailer can provide the product you want, whether online or offline, at the desired speed, small retailers will naturally thrive.”

Rajagopalan emphasized, “Our goal is to help small retailers improve their operations. As the Retailers Association, we don’t believe in halting new or innovative businesses, but we aim to ensure everyone has a level playing field.”

Recently, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), which claims to represent about 800,000 entities, expressed concerns over the rapid expansion of quick commerce platforms. They allege that these platforms create an uneven playing field, negatively impacting small retailers.

The AICPDF submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, raising concerns about anti-competitive practices by quick commerce companies and calling for an investigation.

When asked about RAI's stance on this issue, Rajagopalan said, “The debate over whether retailers should be available both online and offline is now irrelevant. Customers are shopping both ways. Any retailer worth their salt must be available online and offline, which is why I support ONDC. You can’t do anything that goes against customer interests—it will backfire.”

He added, “The key is to enable everyone to do business for the customer. However, if someone is engaging in deep discounting or loss leadership practices that are anti-competitive, these should be addressed, and it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure such practices are stopped.”

“At RAI, we always emphasize a level playing field. No one should take undue advantage of the situation with unfair trade practices. At the same time, businesses should not expect things to be the same as they were a decade ago—COVID has changed all of us as consumers. Retailers must adopt new methods to upgrade themselves.”

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has referred a complaint against quick commerce companies to the CCI for further investigation.

Moreover, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the government to suspend the 'festival sales' events of Amazon and Flipkart, as they will further harm domestic traders through the continued use of anti-competitive practices.

On September 26, Madras High Court lawyer K Narasimhan alleged in his complaint to the DPIIT that e-commerce platform Flipkart is offering discounts at product level for select sellers and creating a non-competitive environment. The letter was sent to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhalla.