Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 6: In a momentous press briefing held today under the Presidentship of Bharat Bhushan Bhagat, the provincial president of the Jammu Kashmir Govt. Pharmacist Association (JKGPA), the long-pending demands of the Govt. Pharmacists were highlighted, along with some significant achievements for the community.
Change of Nomenclature: JKGPA demands the change of nomenclature of Pharmacists as Pharmacy Officers, following the analogy of other states. This change would not only enhance their professional recognition but also elevate their status in the healthcare system.
Upgradation of Posts: The association urged the authorities to upgrade the post of District Pharmacy Officer at district-level hospitals and Block Pharmacy Officer at block-level hospitals in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This upgradation would lead to improved healthcare services and better patient care.
Creation of Technical Officer Post: The JKGPA seeks the creation of the post of Technical Officer (Pharmacy) in every District Hospital of the UT. Citing a recent government order that established this position in Government Medical Colleges, the association advocates for extending the role to district hospitals to ensure equitable opportunities for all pharmacists and enhance patient care standards.
The press briefing also shed light on the recent amendment to the Pharmacy Act 1948. Sushil Sudan, President of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employee Federation and member of Pharmacy Council of India, played a pivotal role in meeting with Union Minister of India Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Madaviya, to address the pending issue of pharmacist registration. The bill was successfully tabled in Parliament and passed with a voice vote on August 3, 2023. This landmark amendment to sec. 32c of the Drug Act 1948 brought relief to 25,000 students and Govt. employees (pharmacists), ensuring smoother registration processes.
The JKGPA conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government, Hon'ble Union Minister of India Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Madaviya, Minister of State Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Hon'ble Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Mehta, Administrative Secretary Health and Family Welfare Bhupinder Kumar, Director Health Service Jammu Dr. Rajeev Sharma, and Director of Health Service Kashmir Dr. Mushtak Ahmed. They also extended a special thank you to Sushil Sudan for his relentless efforts in bringing this struggle of pharmacists to a successful resolution.
The press conference was attended by numerous members of the pharmacist community, including Shaffket Hussain, Bahadur Singh Dogra, Vinod Kumar, Dheeraj Sharma, Surjeet Kumar, Madan Lal Sharma, Dalip Kumar, Pawan Ashwani Gupta, Sanjay Choudhary, Kasturi Lal, Kamaljeet Singh, Sourab Bakshi, Mahesh Sharma, Vaid Paul Saini, Jugal Bakshi, Vishal Gorkha, Gagan Chib, Sarthak Sasan, Anil Raina, Ashok Kumar, Shiv Kumar, Sushil Kohli, Sandeep Pandita, Bishan Verma, Rohit Sharma, Ashok Bhal, Rakesh Bakshi, Sham Sunder Sharma, Bansi Lal, and Barinder Singh.
The achievements and demands highlighted in this press briefing mark a significant milestone for the pharmacist community in Jammu and Kashmir, promising a brighter and more fulfilling future for this essential healthcare profession. |
