Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 17: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today urged the Union Government to safeguard the career of over 20,000 Medical Assistants of J&K by bringing them within the ambit of Central Pharmacy Act.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari said that the Medical Assistants of Jammu and Kashmir also fulfill the eligibility criteria for availing a pharmacy license or applying for any Government job exclusively meant for diploma or degree holders in pharmacy.
“Around 20,000 Medical Assistants in J&K are well trained in Pharmacy who were eligible for Pharmacy licenses under JK Pharmacy Act prior to August 4, 2019 but have now unfortunately been excluded by the Pharmacy Council of India. This is a sheer discrimination with this bright and promising lot of professionals,” Bukhari said.
He said that there seems to be no rationale behind exclusion of Medical Assistants from Central Pharmacy law which was made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir after October 2019. “Discrimination with Medical Assistants who have completed their three years courses (including one year of training) duly recognized under JK Pharmacy Act is unjustifiable and the issue needs to be addressed on a priority basis,” Bukhari advocated.
The JKAP president said by restricting the issuance of pharmacy licenses to aspirants having Bachelors in Pharmacy and Diploma in Pharmacy has jeopardized careers of thousands of Medical Assistants who have studied the same subject with the same syllabus in Government recognized institutes across J&K.
“The Government of India should go for a one-time relaxation for those Medical Assistants who have completed their training prior to August 4, 2019 and chalk out a policy for their absorption in the Government sector,” Bukhari said and also urged the Union Health Ministry to consider Medical Assistants eligible for issuance of Pharmacy licenses and ensure lateral entry for those Medical Assistants who want to pursue their higher studies in Pharmacy.
Bukhari also expressed serious concern over the reports that despite being ineligible for pharmacy licenses and Government jobs as per the Central Pharmacy Act, the Government colleges in J&K are granting admissions to the students for Medical Assistant courses. “The Government should come clear on this issue and stop the admissions to such courses which are recognized under Central Pharmacy Law,” he demanded.
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