KOCHI: As it is said that the wealth of a nation is the health of its people. Most of the nations ear mark a sizeable portion of their budget for the health sector alone. Right to life is a fundamental right as per Article 21 of the Constitution of our country. A person is said to be healthy, if only he is physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. Constitution envisages the duty to protect the health of all, irrespective of the economic, social or cultural or religious stature of the citizens.
Today it is deemed that the health care activities are a coordinated effort of the government and the public. If we had given thrust to the treatment of diseases in the twentieth century, the 21st century emphasises on the right and safe use of drugs. As newer diseases (Dengue fever, Chicken gunea, H1N1, Mersi etc) invades the humanity, science also ponders to find new diagnostic methods and research is being carried out to discover new drugs to combat these diseases.
The role of Pharmacist in the invention and manufacture of drugs is pivotal. According to the Drug Policy 2001 of Govt. of India, every manufacturer has to appropriate a certain percentage of their profit for the research activities. Like in allopathic drugs, today research is also carried out in Ayurveda drugs.Pharmacists with the qualification of M.Pharm, PhD have become essential in the research on drugs. Dispensing of drugs is equally important like manufacture and research on drugs. Unlike in the past now drugs are available in ready to administer forms. But this readily available formulations has increased the responsibility of the Pharmacists, as the Pharmacist has to clearly spell out to the patients the use of such combination drugs.
In developed countries drugs prescribed by the Physicians are dispensed to patients only after it is thoroughly examined by the Pharmacist so as to ensure its safety to the patients. In India Vellore Medical college is known to be the first to introduce this system and now with the advent of Pharm D graduates many hospitals had adopted this system.
Pharmacists has the responsibility to identify whether there is any contraindication between the drugs prescribed by a physician to a patient, whether any drug can cause any adverse drug reaction to the patient, and also to inform the patient about the drug-food interaction, if any and the Pharmacist also has to counsel the patient regarding the precautions while taking a drug, etc. In a way, Pharmacist plays a vital role in the treatment of the patient. But unfortunately, the service rendered by the Pharmacist remain unnoticed.
Today Pharmacist also plays a key role in various programmes designed to maintain the health of the public. Now with the introduction of new rules by the Central Govt. permitting Pharmacist to dispense Over the Counter drugs to the patients without prescription of the Physician, their responsibility is further enhanced. Thus today Society owes a lot to the Pharmacy community and Pharmacist day is observed to recognize such noble works of the Pharmacists by the society at large.There are 120 member countries in the International Federation of Pharmacists formed in 1912. India is also one of the members. It is the collective decision of all including the IFP to observe September 25 as Pharmacist’s Day.
The health of the people is to a major extent, dependent on the lifestyle. India is now in the path of promoting generic drugs. Thus the responsibility of the Pharmacists are doubled. The Pharmacy Council had introduced the Pharm D course in 2008, with a view to providing Pharmacists who can evaluate the prescriptions of the Physician before it is administered to the patients. Today there are around 500 Pharm- D students coming out in Kerala every year. The proposal of Pharmacy Council of India to start the Pharm D course in the Govt. sector is before our Govt. It is high time that Govt. has to take steps to utilise the Pharm D graduates in our Hospitals.
Pharmacists’ duty
Counsel the patients regarding the safe use of drugs
Honour the eminent pharmacists by joining hands with fellow pharmacists
Educational Institutions and manufacturing units can exchange their experience
Educational Institutions may Conduct Essay competitions for students of pharmacy
Public may accord their gratitude to pharmacists
Govt of Kerala is expected to greet the occasion by suitably giving messages in leading dailies
(The author is a former director, School of Medical Education, MG University, Kottayam )
The views expressed in the article are those of the author.