Pharmacists Must Refrain From Dispensing Medicines On Own Judgement, Say Experts In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The pharmacists must refrain from dispensing medicines, prescribed by doctors, on the basis of own judgement as it would attract legal actions, advised medicine experts at a function in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Speaking at the celebration of the World Pharmacists Day-2023 at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), noted physician and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of School of Medicine, KIIT-DU, Prof CBK Mohanty said, “The age of making the medicine or ‘compounding’’ is no more in vogue and pharmacists are now dispensing the medicines as per the prescriptions of the doctors concerned. However, while doing so, they should also know their limitations and do not change medicines as per their own judgement.’’

Advising the pharmacists to go through Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 thoroughly, he said, “Though there are subsequent amendments, the Rules are very stringent and if any consequences are reported, the doctor concerned and institution have to face the music. So the pharmacists must refrain themselves from changing the medicines on the prescriptions, even if the molecules are similar.’’

Speaking on this year’s theme “Pharmacists strengthening health systems”, Principal Ambika Prasad Mohanty said the doctors and pharmacists are complementary to each other and they are giving 24X7 service round the year. Narrating his experience in the North-East, he spoke on how the pharmacists were managing the day-to-day affairs of health service delivery in the remote areas.

He also revealed that DPharma and BPharma courses would begin at KIMS in future through the KIIT School of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences.

Medical Superintendent Prof Rama Chandra Das said, “The organ donation pledge is also in focus this year by the Pharmacy Council of India and the pharmacists should take the pledge by visiting the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) website.”

He also urged the pharmacists to be vigilant always for ensuring patient care safety in hospitals and other health-care delivery institutions. He also suggested them to create awareness on the self-medication and consumption of antibiotics leading to resistance and other complications.

Additional Medical Superintendent Prof Kabikanta Samantray said training of pharmacists on some life-saving procedures and techniques as practised in the South Asian nations should be adopted so that more lives can be saved in the remote pockets.

Vice-Principal Prof Shubhransu Patro and director of KIIT School of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences Prof Prafulla Chandra Mohapatra also spoke.