Pharmaceutical Review (Dr. Haider Karrar). Pharmacist community of all over world is appreciating the marvelous contribution of female wing of PPA Baluchistan to make the current protest fruitfully conclusive. The community is saluting them for supporting and working for pharmacy profession. PPA- Baluchistan proudly appreciate their respected female Pharmacists, when police brutally & illegal Arrest of Pharmacists. They continued their protest rally and reached the provincial assembly. Female group met the MPA Mr Zamark Khan Achakzai. They informed him about the illegal and brutal arrest of pharmacists and the charter of demand. The pharmacist community and health professionals appreciate that voice president PPA-B, Dr Neelam Khan, Dr Murad Bibi Baloch, Dr Naila Zeeshan, Dr Nargis Somro Dr Mussarat Dildar Dr Nadia Naureen Dr Shabnum Saleem, Dr Rahila Ghaffar, Dr Rabia Ishaq, Dr Rabia Arif and Dr Maryam.

Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter). Dr. Noor Muhammad Mahar (03224453577) and Dr. Haroon Yousaf has organized a protest against the illegal confinement (under Article 15 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan) of skilled pharmacists on November 3, 2016 (Thursday) in Lahore. More than 200 pharmacists from academia, hospital, drug inspectors, regulators, industry, consultants, lawyers and students gathered under the flag of Pakistan Young Pharmacist in front of Lahore Press Club in favor of Pharmacists of Baluchistan and against the illegal and brutal act of confinement of innocent Pharmacist by Baluchistan Government in Quetta.

During the protest Dr. Noor Mahar Senior Pharmacist and Drug Law Expert condemn the arrest of Pharmacists of Baluchistan, who raise their voice for their rights and uplifting of Pharmacy Profession. Mr. Mahar urged the Chief Minister of Baluchistan, Health Minister of Baluchistan to immediately release Pharmacists from illegal confinement, otherwise whole pharmacist community will become an iron wall against illegal activities of the government. Mr. Mahar also indicated that 6000 pharmacists’ posts are vacant in Punjab, 5000 pharmacists’ posts are vacant in Sindh, 4000 pharmacists’ posts are vacant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 3000 post are vacant in Balochistan. One pharmacist on 50 beds in hospitals is the need of the day to improve the patient health. Mr. Mahar also highlighted the need of Clinical Pharmacy. Mr. Mahar said that Pharmacists play a vital role in the health care system through the medicine and information they provide. While responsibilities vary among the different areas of pharmacy practice, the bottom line is that pharmacists help patients get well. Pharmacist responsibilities include a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring patient health and progress to maximize their response to the medication. Pharmacists also educate consumers and patients on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and advice physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on drug decisions. Mr. Mahar declared that 2017 is the year of Pharmacists.

Dr. Haroon Yousaf, General Secretary Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association said that instead of uplifting the profession of Pharmacy and increasing the jobs in the Provincial Governments, Balochistan Government has arrested our highly skilled and learned Pharmacists in Quetta; this act is extremely shameful, atrocity, inhuman and cruel. Dr. Haroon added that governments did these acts in dark ages and he urged the government to immediate release of Pharmacists. He also highlighted the corruption in Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and urged Provincial Governments to make their own authorities. Dr. Haroon said that Pharmacists may concentrate on SME Pharmaceutical business, which may start from one room manufacturing facilities. It will result in elimination of spurious, counterfeit, adulterated, misbranded and substandard drug from Pakistan. Pharmacist will produce best quality medicine at less cost and patients will get economical medicines. Pakistan cannot compete with only 500 operating manufacturing factories with India, who is having more than 150000 manufacturing units. India is having one room to US FDA approved manufacturing facilities. India is exporting medicines of more than US$ 25 billion, whereas Pakistani exports dropped from US$ 220 million to US$ 120 million. Our imports increased from US$ 418 million to US$ 609 million, which is unfortunate for Pakistan.

Dr. Hina Shaukat Joint Secretary Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association urged to all Pharmacists to gather and start nationwide protest against barbarity of Baluchistan Government, all the arrested pharmacists must be immediately released from illegal confinement, which is unconstitutional as per the Article 15 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and under the law of Habeas Corpus in Pakistan is governed by Section 491 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. Dr. Hina further urged all provincial governments to announce DRAP in provinces as per the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and recruit pharmacists in provincial DRAPs. She also urged Prime Minister to immediate give all Pharmacists loan of Rs 2 million, and Prime Minister must make a national policy for job enrichment in government sector and Pharmacists to start SME pharmaceutical units with removal of all impediments. Inshallah, Pakistani Pharmacists will make Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry World number one.

At the end, all pharmacists urged Chief Justice of Pakistan, Chief of Army, Prime Minister, President, all Chief Ministers and all Health Ministers to intervene and stop unconstitutional, anti-pharmacist and anti-Pakistan activities of various functionaries of Government.

Pharmaceutical Review (Staff Reporter) Pharmacist Federation (Pakistan) is an offcially registered professional body of pharmacist community in Pakistan. The current sitting president Mr. Habib Ur Rehman (cell: 0322 418 9588), senior vice president Fiaz Ahmad Faizi  (0321 420 5253), vice president Dr.Taha Nazir  Ph.D. (C.: 0321 222 0885) and general secretary Muhammad Aamir  (0322 442 5754) has stated in their collective press release that they support the pharmacist in Baluchistan struggling for the grant of Health Allowance. It’s their legal and political privilege to democratic  a peaceful protest. That is also mentioned the “Constitution of Pakistan”. Therefore the arresting of high profiled pharmacy professional is an explicit state violence and misuse of official power.  That should be stopped right away.

They also stated that the demanded health allowance and other professional facilities should be approved. That will definitely help the community, clinical and hospital pharmacists to deliver best possible clinical/ pharmaceutical care. Morever, that will help to stop the misuse of drugs and prescribing wrong medication. It  also help to control the drug-drug, drug-disease or drug-patient interactions. The pharmacists will then play his real and actual role, that is called “Safety Valve” in between the physicians and patients.

PPA Baluchistan has protested for the Health Allowances and other professional privileges. Unluckily, the government has used the state power to suppress the brave voice of legitimated body of pharmacy professionals. The protesting pharmacist were arrested and put into the locker in police station. This is attitude of democratic government for high profile researcher, scholars and intellectuals. The state is working only to protect the corrupt politicians. They make sure the safety of their illegally collected assets in offshore and foreign banks. In current scenario they seemed to have least interest in the demand of pharmacy professionals. But they are striving to escape from judicial enquiry regarding Panama Leaks.

But, pharmacist community is committed to continue their movement until, until the due privileges are granted and approved by local and federal governments.

The pictorial view of this state voilance and peaceful protest is as under;

We as reformers salute the pharmacist brothers of ppa balochistan for their struggle. We all Pharmacist community, health professionals strongly condemn the brutality of Balochistan government at Press club Quetta, infront of Baluchistan Assembly with most Nobel and learned Pharmacist brothers.

Have personally talked to Dr saleem Baloch , safi ullah kakar & Haider karar on behalf on reformers & have condemned the brutality made by police & the Government .

Pharmacists in Balochistan are protesting for the increase in Health care allowances and were arrested due to having more demands. Even due to their regional efforts Pharmacists are considered as health care professionals in Balochistan and enjoying health care allowences as well where as on Punjab Pharmacists are deprived. Indeed in Punjab Pharmacists are not even listed among health care professionals and not eligible to get health care allowances too because no one is ready to raise voice against the discriminative behaviour from health department. We will appreciate if PPA center and Punjab have the real interest/intensions to protest for the such rights of Pharmacists in Punjab too. Point scoring and political milage is never been reason for change in the Profession at all. We salute the Baloch leadership in Quetta for sacrificing their today for the tomorrow of future Pharmacists while being arrested during days hunger strike. We as a Pharmacists need true, mature, bold, fear free, honest and skilled leader to raise voice in front of Health Authorities to work for the best benefit of the Profession unconditionally.