Hyderabad: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) graduates must be incorporated in the National Medical Commission Bill 2019 as community health workers, the Doctor of Pharmacy Association demanded on Sunday.
PharmD graduates can work as mid-level practitioners and prescribe specified medicines in primary and preventive health care, the association told the Union health ministry.
Earlier in 2019, DPA had approached union health ministry to include the PharmD graduates in the government programmes in rural areas so that they can work at the community level. But these programmes have yet not included these graduates and they want that the NMC Bill 2019 must recognise them so that they can be included in the programme.
The role of community health workers is important as it will be for preventive care and the pharmacists state that as they have detailed knowledge of the subject they can assist the programme more efficiently.
The Pharmacy Council of India also supported the demand of the association and said that it would empower pharmacists which will go a long way in addressing the health concerns of the people effectively.
