#Pharmacist - Kaha ka? - Neither for Industry nor for Healthcare

#Pharmacist - Kaha ka?

    - Neither for Industry nor for Healthcare

Pharmacists in India face a stark reality: 

There is no exclusivity for them in pharmaceutical industry, R&D, or marketing. Except Diploma Pharmacists graduates and even Clinical Pharmacists with PharmD have no slots to serve in Healthcare

Then, what for these courses are conducted to ruin the life of young aspiring Pharmacists?

 With thousands of colleges producing an overwhelming number of graduates each year, industry is not a viable source of employment.

Shockingly, the IPC which is a conglomeration of IPA, IGPA, APTI, IHPA and PCI has never considered this issue to evolve a solution, inspite of repeatedly voicing the need. 

Irony is IPC wants huge number of Pharmacists from various streams to attend and participate in various activities! but seldom addresses their issues since 1968.

Adding to this crisis are restrictions in our very laws:

Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 does not grant pharmacists exclusive rights in manufacturing, R&D, or marketing; wholesale drug licenses can go to non-pharmacists; even in retail, ownership lies with anyone, with pharmacists reduced to mere signatories. Clinical roles such as counseling or therapy monitoring are not mandated at all.

Pharmacy Act, 1948 is confined largely to registration. Unlike doctors or nurses, pharmacists have no statutory role in patient care. Dispensing is mandatory only on paper—weak enforcement allows rampant proxy practice. Education provisions remain outdated, failing to orient graduates to healthcare needs.

This legal framework leaves them in “Na ghar ka, na ghat ka”—neither industry-recognized nor healthcare-anchored. Yet authorities, academicians, and faculty remain indifferent, even as NAAC delists pharmacy from Health Sciences.

The way forward lies in restructuring. We need intellectually smart teachers to shape smart pharmacists. 

Healthcare is the only sector with infinite potential to absorb all category of Pharmacists —from dispensing to logistics to clinical pharmacy which all together is PharmaCare support to healthCare.

Every hospital unit requires at least one clinical pharmacist and one or two chief pharmacists, besides diploma pharmacists. To make this a reality, pharmacy must be firmly recognized as a Health Science, with education restructured to produce competent professionals.

Since PCI has taken up the task of Updating the B. Pharm Curriculum it should seriously consider to incorporate all activities required to support HealthCare under PharmaCare.

Further, the Profession needs a Supportive laws. Hence, a separate law "#PharmacyPracticeRegulationAct should be legislated that empowers  the Pharmacist with due Accountability. This will eradicate the menace of Certificate renting, Absentee Pharmacist, Corruption arising out of this violation. 

#PCI

#APTI

#IPA

#IPC2025

#Pharmacist 

#Industry 

#Healthcare

POV: Bhagwan PS

One Syllabus One Book For All Courses

#OneSyllabusOneBookForAllCourses

I came across some advertisement of Books on Anatomy, Physiology, Jurisprudence, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology etc claiming that it is for D Pharm and B Pharm. As we go through the syllabus we find the same content.

Does this mean both study the same, Knowledge is same, depth is same?

                          ***

A “One Book for All” approach though is convenient to the Author and gets better sales is usually oversimplified marketing—helpful for surface-level basics, but insufficient for B Pharm-level depth.

It is high dose to D Pharm and sub-dose to B Pharm.

Ideally, separate standard textbooks (or at least editions with differentiated depth) are needed

Pov: Bhagwan PS

VisionOfTheIndianPPRAct- Bhagwan PS

#MyVisionOfTheIndianPPRAct

Given the persistent failure of institutions and systems to provide fair, deserved opportunities to qualified pharmacists, an exclusive legislation with clear empowerment and accountability has become essential.

The Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR) Act is envisioned as the legal and professional backbone for safe, effective, and ethical pharmaceutical care in India. It will authorize pharmacists as direct patient care providers, backed by professional accountability, standard operating procedures, and defined service delivery models—integrating them seamlessly into the healthcare continuum.

Under the PharmaCare Clinical Support System, the Act applies across all professional tiers—D Pharm, B Pharm, M Pharm, and PharmD—with structured, competency-based roles:

1. #DiplomaInPharmacy (D Pharm):

Frontline dispensers and community care providers. Trained in medication handling, prescription verification, OTC guidance, and basic counselling. Accountable for legal dispensing, adverse event reporting, and prescription record maintenance.

2. #BachelorOfPharmacy (B Pharm):

Advanced technical and operational support. Skilled in dosage form optimisation, supply chain integrity, pharmacovigilance, and rational drug use promotion. Authorized to conduct prescription audits, assist in therapeutic substitutions under protocol, and support primary care clinics in medication therapy management.

3. #MasterOfPharmacy (M Pharm – Pharmacy Practice / Clinical / Hospital Pharmacy):

Specialised medication experts in clinical decision support, formulary management, and interprofessional collaboration. Lead quality improvement programs, train juniors, develop evidence-based protocols, and support health technology assessment initiatives.

4. #DoctorOfPharmacy (PharmD):

Apex patient-care pharmacists integrated into clinical teams. Conduct medication histories, identify and resolve drug-related problems, perform therapeutic drug monitoring, and provide evidence-based therapy recommendations. Drive clinical governance, patient safety initiatives, and pharmacare research.

The #PPRAct’s PharmaCare model creates a continuous patient-care chain where each cadre complements the next—ensuring medication use is safe, effective, and cost-efficient. It mandates standardised documentation, ICT-enabled monitoring, and continuous professional development to maintain competence.

Ultimately, the Act positions pharmacists as indispensable members of healthcare teams—bridging the gap between prescription and patient outcomes, reducing medication errors, and improving public health metrics. It shifts pharmacy practice from a supply-driven role to a patient-centred, outcome-oriented healthcare service—securing the pharmacist’s place as a critical partner in India’s healthcare service system.

Pov: Bhagwan PS

#PharmacyPracticeRegulationAct is in the urgent need to support the collapsing #PharmacyProfession.

#PharmacyPracticeRegulationAct is in the urgent need to support the collapsing #PharmacyProfession.

POV: Bhagwan PS

Drugs Law &Pharmacy Law are the main bottleneck preventing Pharmacists from delivering professional service..#DrugsRegulatory, #PCI, #APTI

Drugs Law &Pharmacy Law are the main bottleneck preventing Pharmacists from delivering  professional service..

#DrugsRegulatory, #PCI, #APTI

POV: Bhagwan PS

the right value is given only in the right place. If you are not valued, it doesn’t mean you are worthless — it only means you are standing in the wrong place.

Dear PharmDs, 

Let me tell you a short story.

An aged father once told his daughter: “I have nothing to give you except the old car standing outside. Before selling it, take it to different places and see how much people value it.”

The daughter took the car first to a dealer — he said it was too old, worth very little. Then to a shopkeeper — he offered a little more, just out of kindness. Finally, she showed it to a museum. The curator exclaimed, “This is a rare classic, priceless! We will pay you a fortune.”

The father then said, “My child, the right value is given only in the right place. If you are not valued, it doesn’t mean you are worthless — it only means you are standing in the wrong place.”

Friends, this is exactly the condition of our young pharmacists today. Many feel undervalued and frustrated. In some hospitals, they are treated merely as dispensers. In others, a little better as support staff. 

But when the system understands your expertise in medicines, patient safety, and therapy optimization — will be recognized as an  indispensable member of the healthcare team.

Now, the good news is that 'The All India PharmDs Association® (AIPDA) is bringing on the cards the PharmaCare Clinical Support System — a platform to approach Government of India with a well planed presentation and a Memorandum and to request to start 'Pharmacare Clinical Clinical support' department' in selected hospitals as a Pilot Project where pharmacists where your skills in drug information, evidence-based support, and clinical care will be recognized as essential for better patient outcomes.

Friends, the message is clear:

👉 Our value does not diminish because someone fails to recognize it.

👉 It is our responsibility to give moral push to our students, our young professionals, to move towards the right platforms, to innovate, to prepare, and to be part of systems like PharmaCare where their true worth will shine.

Let us not lament. Let us stand united and strengthen the AIPDA to negotiate intellectually with the Government to make 'Pharmacare' concept a reality.

Join AIPDA today!

Thank you.

POV: Bhagwan PS