Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 25
The Nagaland State Pharmacy Council (NSPC) today celebrated World Pharmacists’ Day here at De Oriental Grand, Kohima under the theme “Pharmacist, Your Medicine Expert.”
World Pharmacist Day 2018 focuses on highlighting the role of medicine experts. It was first observed in 2009, by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Council in Istanbul, Turkey. The day is meant to encourage pharmacists to promote and advocate their profession.
Pharmacists play an important role in taking care of people's health all over the world.
The theme "Pharmacists: Your medicines experts" emphasises that pharmacists are a trusted source of knowledge and advice, not just for patients, but also for healthcare professionals.
Gracing the celebration as special invitee, Dr. Vikeyie Losu, principal director, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland urged the pharmacists to ensure that they provide the right medicine with the right dose to every patient who walks into a pharmacy.
Dr. Losu said pharmacists carry out multi tasking work, even to the extent of administering medicines and also attending to traumatic injuries.
"They play the role of doctor in small way which becomes a major support towards the health delivery system," he said.
Expressing that this world of information technology has become very important while generic drug has also been given much importance through the central scheme of Janausadhi, Dr Losu called upon the pharmacists to upgrade their knowledge in order to be true medicine experts thereby providing right medicine with right dose.
In this, he also appealed that any pharmacy should be manned by pharmacist and not the sale persons. "Your expertise should be used to provide better health care as you are in better position of dispensing medicine," Dr Losu stated.
NSPC president Dziesevotuo called upon the pharmacists to be serious with public health.
He said that pharmacists need to play a vital role in public health care system by thoroughly checking the market surveillance of new drugs.
Expressing that Pharmacist have been making best effort to upgrade their knowledge for better health care, he lamented that both the centre and state government have been under utilising the pharmacists profession.
Pointing out that pharmacist studies continues to remain at diploma courses in India, he stressed on the need to upgrade the course.
Maintaining that adverse drug reaction is among the fourth leading causes of death worldwide, he suggested that pharmacists should attend different sources including refresher and continuing education in order to enhance their knowledge on drugs.
He also stressed on the need do research.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by deputy chief pharmacist Rokokieno Linyii.
The function was chaired by drugs inspector Ethungbemo Ezung while vote of thanks was proposed by Khele Thorie, deputy director (Pharmacy) & Registrar NSPC.
Continuing pharmacy education programme also marked the celebration with Dziesevotuo and Lutovi Pucho as resource persons.
