Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: Jammu & Kashmir Government Pharmacists Association (JKGPA), Jammu Province, has voiced serious concerns over regulatory lapses and policy shortcomings affecting pharmacy education and the pharmacist cadre in the Union Territory, calling for urgent Government intervention to safeguard students’ interests and patient care standards.
The Association highlighted these issues during a press conference, drawing attention to two key areas impacting the pharmacy sector. It informed that there are 24 pharmacy institutes currently operating in J&K UT, with around 1,440 students enrolled in diploma pharmacy courses, alongside others pursuing degree-level education.
It clarified that pharmacy education is governed by a distinct professional framework under the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and noted that the J&K Allied Health Care Council registers all paramedical courses except pharmacy, in line with PCI notification dated June 19, 2023. Despite this, the Association alleged that the J&K Nursing Council has been issuing consents of affiliation for diploma pharmacy courses, which it termed a violation of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. Click here to watch video
The Association also flagged a long-standing issue related to the continued training of Medical Assistants. Although the nomenclature of Medical Assistant was changed to Pharmacist in 1993, training under the former title continues in Government and private institutions. This, it warned, has divided the cadre and jeopardized students’ futures, as such trainees are ineligible for registration and Government jobs.
PCI Chairman and Member Sushil Sudan urged the Government to authorize the J&K State Pharmacy Council to regulate pharmacy education and to impose a blanket ban on Medical Assistant training.
Those present on the occasion included Association president Bharat Bhushan Bhagat, RP Singh, Surjeet Rajan, Madan Lal, district president Shafkat Hussain, Ashwani Kumar, Rajesh Bhagat, Ashique Hussain, Kamaljeet Singh and Charanjeet Singh.
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