Pharmacists seek a larger role in healthcare

Pharmacists & Pharmacy students around globe celebrated the World Pharmacists Day. World Pharmacists Day highlights the role of pharmacists in Public Health and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health.

Each year welcomes a new theme, the theme of this year is: “From research to health care: Your pharmacist is atyour service.” This year’s theme was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions the pharmacy profession makesto health.

“Pharmacists are the backbone of the health care system. From research and development of medicines to quality analysis of the drugs, to educating future pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and providing direct care, the role of pharmacists is very diverse. They contribute in clinical services, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs and many other sectors. While by nature of work/practice, many pharmacists work silently behind the scenes, some of them who are in direct contact with patients represent the face of the pharmacy profession.”

On the occasion of World Pharmacists Day, Doctor of Pharmacy Association (DPA) has organized a National Level workshop on "Basics of Pharmacovigilance" Striving for excellence in collaboration with: NCC-PvPI, (National Coordinating Centre-Pharmacovigilance programme of India) IPC Ghaziabad. About 250 delegates have attended the workshop at Amravati. This workshop helped the students and health care professions to gain knowledge and skills about the Pharmacovigilance.

The World Health Organization reported that one in 10 hospital admissions leads to an adverse event and one in 300 admissions in death. So it is very important to manage adverse drug reactions and reduce the no. of hospital admissions due to ADRs and cut down the health care costs. And I strongly feel that a pharmacist is the right health care professional who can manage ADRs, drug interaction, dose adjustments, etc.

 Pharmacovigilance today has become very robust and sophisticated with the advancements in science and technology.

 As expected, the spectrum of PV capabilities available in India has expanded. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is now a WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmacovigilance, the first one in Asia. Congratulations to the PVPI team!

 With the Indian regulators insisting more on pharmacovigilance capabilities, the recruitment and work is expected to grow to a great extent.

 If we look at the global pharmacovigilance (PV) market, it is expected to reach USD 10.27 billion by 2025.

 SO, there is need for continuous education and sensitization regarding pharmacovigilance and improving the ongoing pharmacovigilance activities in our hospitals.