Call to appoint one pharmacist for every 50 hospital beds

World Pharmacist Day

LAHORE

Pharmacists have underscored the need to post one pharmacist on 50 beds in hospitals to improve the health indicators as they marked World Pharmacist Day on Sunday.

According to a press release issued here on Sunday, more than 500 pharmacists and students gathered in College of Pharmacy, Punjab University Old Campus and observed the World Pharmacist Day. A cake was cut by Prof Dr Khalid Hussain and Prof Dr Nadeem Irfan Bokhari, dean and principal, respectively, College of Pharmacy, Punjab University.

Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum President Noor Mahar said that pharmacists’ responsibilities included a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring patients' health and progress to maximise their response to the medication. He said pharmacists also educated consumers and patients on use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and advised physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on drug decisions. He said that pharmacists would develop 10,000 manufacturing units of over the counter medicines in 2017. He said that 6,000 pharmacists’ posts were vacant only in province of Punjab and likewise in all provinces. He also highlighted the need for clinical pharmacy.

Pakistan Pharmaceutical Consortium President Muhammad Usman said that pharmacists should not always look towards governments for jobs. He said pharmacists might concentrate on SME pharmaceutical business which could  be started from one room manufacturing facilities. He said it would result in elimination of spurious, adulterated and substandard drugs from Pakistan. He said pharmacists would produce best quality medicine at less cost and patients would get economical medicines. He said Pakistan could not compete with only 500 operating manufacturing factories with India which had more than 150,000 manufacturing units.

He said, "India has one-room to the US FDA approved manufacturing facilities. India is exporting medicines worth 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."

Prof Dr Khalid Hussain said that pharmacists also provided expertise about the composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological and physical properties and their manufacture and use. He said they ensured drug purity and strength and make sure that drugs did not interact in a harmful way. He said pharmacists were drug experts, ultimately concerned about their patients' wellness. He said the principal goal of pharmacist care was to achieve positive outcomes from the use of medication which improved patients' quality of life with minimum risk. 

Prof Dr Nadeem Irfan and Dr Hina Shaukat, joint secretary, Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association, also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the pharmacists held a walk to create awareness among the people about prevention of diseases and treatment. They also visited different hospitals of Lahore and later gathered in front of Lahore Press Club and concluded the World Pharmacist Day activities.