With an aim to promote patient safety by ensuring presence of pharmacists in healthcare delivery of the state, the Maharashtra Registered Pharmacists Association (MRPA) has demanded the implementation of Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR) 2015. MRPA submitted a memorandum to Maharashtra Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) Minister Girish Mahajan in this regards governing Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council (MSPC) which is responsible for implementation of PPR 2015.
MRPA opposed the Union health ministry's positive approach towards providing skill training to those working at pharmacies for more than five years to make them eligible for drug distribution at par with pharmacists. MRPA appealed to health ministry to scrap the initiative.
There are 2 lakhs registered pharmacists in Maharashtra and of them, 1.5 lakh pharmacists are unemployed. Every year 21,000 pharmacy students pass out and 15,000 got registered. The health ministry's move will further increase their unemployment rate. Allowing unqualified persons to dispense drugs will have negative impact public health and it is violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945, which makes it mandatory for every drug retail store in India.
MRPA demands appointments of pharmacists in various primary health centres and sub centres in all over Maharashtra. There are 2000 pharmacist posts are vacant at primary health centres, sub centres, and district hospitals of Maharashtra. The state government has not yet initiated steps to fill up the vacant posts. The absence of pharmacists at primary health centres, sub centres is taking its toll on healthcare of local people. A total of 35 people died of medication error in the state over the last couple of years. ASHA and ANM workers are handling drug distribution at primary health centres and sub centres instead of pharmacists.
MRPA had held demonstration at Azad Madain ground in support of their demands on December 22 and subsequently submitted a memorandum of their demands to the state medical education minister. The minister has assured us that he will look into our demands. If the government fails to meet our demands, we will conduct massive protest in front of Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha during assembly session in March, 2017.
