In support of their various demands the pharmacists of Government hospitals of State are planning to launch an agitation. The general secretary of the Diploma Pharmacist Association of Uttarakhand, CS Mahra has even threatened to start a fast unto death at state health directorate from June 15.
The Pharmacists are particularly peeved over the Joint Director (Paramedical) functions and are alleging that he is determined to complicate the problems of the pharmacists instead of solving them. The state President of the association, BS Kaluda said that the JD made adverse notes on Government correspondence for allowing the Pharmacists to prescribe drugs of Schedule H to the patients in the health centres where doctors are not available. Pharmacists allege that an adverse note of JD has ensured that the important issue of public interest is lingering. Kaluda claimed that in an order dated April 04, 2010 the Director General (DG) health had directed that all issues related with the cadre of pharmacist would be dealt by Deputy Director (DD) Pharmacy who in turn would report directly to DG. The association is claiming JD paramedical is handling the pharmacy cadre in violation of the order DG. The association is also demanding restructuring of its cadre.
There are 1260 posts of pharmacists in the state; the association is of the view that the due to increased work load the state government should increase the posts of pharmacists in the health services.