Pharmacist in healthcare management: Case study of India

Pharmacists are an integral part of healthcare team. Traditional role of pharmacist as dispenser of medicines has evolved and today pharmacists are expected to advise patients regarding safe use of medicines. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, the number of pharmacists in India is approximately 5,90,000 or just 0.56 pharmacist per 1000 population. In the US ratio of pharmacist per 1000 population is 0.88. This ratio is marginally better than India. Pharmacist as a member of healthcare team does not get proper recognition from either medical fraternity or patients.

In India after completion of studies, pharmacists generally tend to opt for career in pharmaceutical industry rather than working as a community, hospital or clinical pharmacist. This may be attributed partly due to better pay scale in pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacists that do not join pharmaceutical industry go abroad for brighter prospects. This again adds to the difficulties in community, hospital and clinical set up where expert services of pharmacists help in providing better healthcare to patients.

Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and rules 1945 still governs pharmacy profession in India with amendments from time to time. These amendments are not sufficient to meet growing healthcare demands and increasing role of pharmacists. In order to orient pharmacists toward better community, hospital and clinical services, the government of India should enact legislations that provides for graduates to serve in community, hospital or clinical pharmacy before registering as a pharmacist with pharmacy councils. The archaic laws governing Pharmacy profession in India need to be updated with changing times. The syllabus at graduate and postgraduate level during academic studies should focus on community, hospital and clinical pharmacy in addition to syllabus that is oriented towards meeting pharmaceutical industry demands.

Pharmacist as a member of healthcare team needs its due credit from patients and physicians.