Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 7
Minister for health & family welfare, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, today requested pharmacists to show more love and care for their patients and customers, stating that love can work wonders and, as the saying goes, ‘Love is magical’. It is a language for the deaf to hear, a song for the cripple to dance to, and sunset for the blind to see, he said.
Stating that pharmacists are the principal unleashers in the health services, the Minister assured that the government was going all out to support their valuable works and said, “What makes you so special is the fact that you are lifesavers, you light up the days of those people who have lost hope in living and give them a new hope to live.”
Speaking at the 15th General Conference of the Nagaland Pharmacist’s Association (NPA) here today, the Minister stated that leadership has never been as important in health services as “it is now” while saying, “pharmacists have an important stake in defining the healthcare delivery system at preventive and curative level in Nagaland”.
“Pharmacy is fast maturing as a clinical profession and is well positioned to transform itself from a product-oriented to a patient-oriented profession,” the Minister said. He was also of the view that physicians, pharmacist, nurses and other health related professionals should work in harmony towards the central benefit of their patients.
The world over, Azo said, a pharmacist is an important member of the health team including clinical researchers, adding that they can be used intelligently as manpower towards the sacred goals of immunisation, family planning, preventing medication errors, abuse of tobacco and alcohol. “In fact, pharmacists can be real barefoot doctors to the average people of our rural India. In the rural areas, people even treat them as doctors. The role of the pharmacist is summarised through the WHO as a Seven Star concept in which a pharmacist is described as a caregiver, communicator, decision maker, teacher, lifelong learner, leader and manager. Pharmacists can apply their knowledge and skills to become directly involved in the healing and education of patients,” Azo asserted.
The Minister also said that a modern day pharmacist should be trained in providing knowledge concerning optional drug therapy for patients with a focus on drug interactions and potential side effects, counselling on various disease conditions, education and promotion of the general health of the general public and choosing the right drug for patients.
Also stating that the pharmacist’s role is redefined and they should be provided training in various areas of medicines in the Indian context, the Minister said, “New drugs are appearing on the market at a faster pace, some of the new drugs have gained most immediate widespread acceptance, requiring continual updating of the pharmacist information base and maintaining ongoing skills in counselling patients and other members of healthcare teams.” The Minister also stated that studies have shown that pharmacist can contribute to reducing the cost of healthcare while at the same time improving patients’ use of medications and health outcomes.
Commissioner and Secretary for health & family welfare, Menukhol John, who also spoke during the conference, urged the gathering to take a pledge to work with greater zeal and dedication. DHFW Principal Director Dr. V Sekhose complimented the NPA for choosing its conference theme, ‘Role of pharmacists in health care delivery system’, and termed it a step in the right direction. He also urged the Association to come up with a concrete proposal, adding that the government is there to assist and recommend whatever good policy is framed by them for the benefit of the masses.
R F Lotha, the Additional Drugs Controller for Nagaland, called upon the gathering to be dedicated and sincere in their approach and to serve the people. Appreciating the state government for constituting the State Pharmacy Council, S L Nasa, M.Pharm, FIC, FIPA, Registrar for Delhi Pharmacy Council, expressed his wish that the government would start a diploma course in pharmacy in Nagaland. Later, the Association honoured Dr. Ketousetuo Kuotsu, from Kohima village, for his outstanding achievement in the pharmacy profession.
