Dimapur, June 19 (EMN): The Unemployed Registered Pharmacists’ Association Nagaland (Urpan) comprising qualified and registered professionals on Friday appealed to the state government to reinstate the existing 490 posts of pharmacists and lift the blanket ban on new appointments imposed by the government, in the interest of the society.
The association, in a press release on Friday, stated that the government had put a blanket ban on new appointments from 2015 till 2022 and consequently posts of pharmacists were withdrawn from sub-centre-level, where under privileged sections of the society received healthcare services.
The state government on the grounds of 'cadre review' abruptly cut down the existing 490 posts of pharmacists to 309 in 2015 without proper analysis, it alleged, adding that Nagaland has lost 181 pharmacist posts.
This move, it said has also rendered many primary health centres , community health centres, and district hospitals without requisite number of pharmacists.
Stating that as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 and the Pharmacy Practice Regulation, 2015, only a registered pharmacist can dispense drugs or medicines, Urpan stated. It added 'how healthcare institutions are supposed to function without pharmacists.'
Citing that the strength of existing healthcare workers have been found to be insufficient to cater to the ever increasing number of Covid-19 positive cases, Urpan has appealed to the government to take the matter on urgent basis and create post for pharmacists.