06/12/2020
Are Indian Pharmacists destroying their own proffesion?
today I will ask some pinching questions to all the pharmacists out here. In most of the European countries pharmacists are highly paid but in India the condition is extremely pathetic. Are the pharmacists in India not responsible for their conditions themselves? Are the pharmacists not destroying their own proffesion by renting their certificates? We will ask some questions from the pharmacist about their pathetic condition. I hope a pharmacist of true dignity and expertise will answer these questions.
1. Most of the medical stores in India are run by unqualified persons who are not eligible to run the stores under Drug and Cosmetic Act. They take their licences on rent from the pharmacists who work elsewhere. The pharmacists don't only sell their certificates on rent but also their dignity and self respect is sold in mere Rs 200-300 per month. In most of the cases pharmacists sell their drug licences to the drug inspectors which in turn rent those licenses to any unqualified person by taking hefty sum of money. Are the pharmacists not responsible for their deeds? Please answer.
2. Most of the pharmacists are the residues of people who could not qualify the pre-medical exam. They enter pharma field with a great sense of frustration and anguish. Through the entire study they are heard cursing the system, their seniors, their teachers and if it is not sufficient, they blame the government. Is this frustration and anguish not destroying your own proffesion ?
3. The drug inspectors, who are themselves pharmacists first, don't have enough courage and calibre to fight against the chemist and druggist associations. They often have some vested financial interests in all the medical shops. Their commissions in form of some gifts or money from each shops are fixed. At present the conditions is such that if any person approaches a drug inspector for a medical store then the drug inspectors will provide them with everything, even the drug licences. Are they not responsible for the pathetic condition of pharmacists?
4. Many of fresher pharmacists are seen working in some companies in Baddi , Sikkim or Daman etc at a mere salary of Rs 5000 per month. When asked they say that 'we are working here to get experience'. My question for them ' Is your theory and practical classes in college not enough for the experience and expertise you get while working in sampling section of the local pharma companies? Are not you setting wrong example for the future pharmacists who will have to search jobs?
The pharmacists have destroyed their proffesion to such an extent that at present approximately 7 lakh medical store in India are running illegally without any pharmacist. This number is very large and in the meantime their associations have become so strong that they are demanding amendment in the law of the compulsion of pharmacists in the shops. The pharmacists have destroyed their proffesion to such a low level that the pharmacists are now termed as mere shopkeepers.
