Pharmaceutical Review (www.pharmarev.wordpress.com). Pakistan Pharmacist Federation (www.pharmafed.com) presented twenty one professional demands to the Government of Pakistan. The details of these demands are as under;
- Regularization of adhoc pharmacists as per c.m announcement.
- Acknowledgement of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D’s) as Primary Health Care Providers as they are most easily accessible in the community to provide Drug information, Treat Basic illness, public awareness, administration of public & preventive health programs & and carry out vaccination.
- Limited prescription authorization of registered Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) to write certain drugs as don in advance countries. Practice supplementary and/or independent prescribing for the common illness & symptoms within the Licensed Pharmacy Premises in the local community.
- Provide Sufficient Resources & Seats Professional Higher Post Graduate Education for Pharm D graduates. Like M.S, M.Phil PhD, PGD,s in Clinical Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, and International Degree Courses for Pharmacists in all Health Sciences Institutes in Pakistan
- Establishment of Directorate of Pharmacy Services within Ministry of Health in Center and likewise appointment of Assistant Directors Pharmaceutical Services in Districts health offices of Punjab.
- Introduce Prescription Recording System in Pakistan to monitor the prescribing practices through pharmacists ensuring Rational Use of Drugs and to prevent the unethically promoted prescribing & misuse of costly medicine.
- Establishment of a National Pharmacy Credentialing Committee (NPCC) responsible for fixing minimum pay scale for pharmacist (NLT 30,000 PKR/Month), Competency assessment, continued education, review of appointment procedures, and setting minimum practice & research standards for pharmacists working in community, clinical (Hospitals), academia, and administrative setups (Drug Insp. ADC).
- Resumption of the Punjab Govt. Pharmaceutical Care Project of Punjab Government (due to be completed in 2005) and pursue with the appointments of Clinical Pharmacists Positions in every Tehsil Hospital (every 50 beds).and where the drug is being stored like as on R.H.C level.
- Authorization of the provision of Clinical Pharmacy training in the teaching hospitals as per the directive of the Government of the Punjab, Health Department No. SO/(DC) 6-8/2005, dated 17/3/2006.
- Authorization of concerned i.e. Pharmacy Council of Pakistan to introduce a Board Certification (BCPS) in Clinical Pharmacy Specialties (i.e. Nutrition Pharmacist, Infectious Disease Pharmacist, Pharmacotherapist, Oncology Pharmacist etc ) as being practiced internationally in USA, UK, Netherland, Australia, New Zealand etc. American Indian Health Service (IHS) National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (NCPS) with prescriptive authority. (Ref: HIS-SGM 10-18-96)
- Permitting the practicing Pharmacists to be benefited from the National Health Foundation Loan Scheme to set up community pharmacies to promote practice of Pharmacy.
- Discontinuation of issuance of the Drug Sale Licenses Wavier for Medical Practitioners running a full scale unsupervised dispensary (actually keeping all medical store items) within Clinic premises keeping almost all medical store items without being accountable under the Drug Act 1976 & Punjab Drug Rules 2007,
- Allowing Pharmacists practicing in Govt. agencies to claim non practicing Allowance or allow them to practice their profession in evening time as in other provinces like Baluchistan.
- Assurance of dissemination of professional/ regulatory bodies at district level by developing a democratic way of electing its executives in a manner as first electing the district representatives for this association at each district of Pakistan who should then select a president and executives for its administration out of those previously elected District representatives of association.
- Providing proper Infra Structure of Jobs for pharmacists, in every Private & Public Sector Hospitals of Pakistan. This should meet International Standards.
- Accepting the pharmacist’s application in clinical disciplines of health sciences at M.Phil., PhD at miscellaneous institutions i.e. University of Health Sciences Lahore; KEMU, Lahore etc and conduct entry test related to pharmacy subjects.
- Offering sufficient seats for pharmacy graduates in each university along with research facilities. Enforcing the private academic institutions and universities to provide post graduate pharmacy education instead of education business.
- Providing 6 months on the study training in pharmacy profession, during last 6 months of Pharm D, 5 years Course. As Described in Law of Pakistan Pharmacy Council Regulation Jul 23, 2005 For Conduction of Pharmacy Education. Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. S.R.O 740 (I)/2005 (Sindh)
- Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies, working in Pakistan, directly/ indirectly should separately announce sufficient number of seats for fresh pharmacy graduates. These companies are usually demand experienced professionals; therefore; the fresh candidates seats should also be accommodated.
- We also request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to banned the substandard community pharmacy practice; medical stores dispensing drugs without proper way, rules and professional supervision. Worldwide; the Pharmacist is supposed to be responsible of dispense the prescribed drugs.
- Appointment of pharmacist for the sale promotional segment of pharmaceuticals.
