State govt to allow Bpharm students to work at medical shops

While the state government is facing a shortage of pharmacists to serve in medical shops, it has decided to allow students of Bpharm (bachelor of pharmacy) course to work in the establishments.

While making this decision, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also made the norms more stringent and availability of pharmacists compulsory in all chemist shops. The FDA has been strictly monitoring medical shops in the state and taking action against those that are not employing pharmacists.

BJP legislators Ashish Shelar and Yogesh Sagar raised the issue of shortage of pharmacists during question hours in the lower house on Thursday. They also enquired about the steps taken by the government on the issue as it was causing inconvenience to the customers and the medical shop keepers as well.

FDA minister Girish Bapat told the house that the government has decided to allow the Bpharm students to certify the billing in the shops.

“We are encouraging the Bpharm students to participate in ‘earn while you learn’ initiative. This will help us overcome the shortage of pharmacists. We will soon issue orders allowing the students to work in the medical shops,” he said.

The minister also said all shops will have to sell the drug under the inspection of the pharmacist and there could be no compromise on the norm. He also said the shops not appointing pharmacists will have to face action.

The minister also informed the lower house that action has been initiated against Dahisarbased Sai Shivai Pharma for stocking and selling drugs pur