Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh announced on Tuesday the formation of a dedicated committee to address the pressing concerns raised by pharmacists in the state.
During her first meeting with a delegation of pharmacists, Lyngdoh acknowledged that the issues presented were new to her and admitted that more detailed information was needed to fully understand the scope of their concerns.
Among the key challenges discussed was the absence of a service rule for pharmacists, an issue the Minister vowed to explore further. The group also highlighted several other pressing concerns, including the critical shortage of drug inspectors across many districts, which has led to gaps in medicine availability and regulatory oversight.
A major demand from the pharmacists was the need to initiate job examinations to allow professionals to compete for existing vacancies. The group also pushed for the establishment of a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit, which would not only address supply shortages but also create employment opportunities for the youth in the region.
Furthermore, the pharmacists called on the government to increase the number of pharmacists deployed at district hospitals, as well as community health centers (CHCs), primary health centers (PHCs), and sub-centers across the state. They stressed the urgent need for Drug Inspectors in every district to ensure proper regulation and safety in drug dispensation.
The pharmacist delegation also added that the unemployment rate is high among pharmacy graduates, according to their findings from the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The delegation reported that despite a substantial number of available jobs, the Pharmacist Council in the state remains non-functional. They urged the Minister to expedite the process of granting licenses to qualified pharmacy graduates, enabling them to establish their own pharmacy shops.
