We are victims of corrupt system: Pharmacists

Acute shortage of registered pharmacists in Nagaland

Morung Express News
Kohima | June 20

Following the Drugs Control Administration under the Department of Health & Family Welfare since February 2025, the All Nagaland Pharmacy Association (ANPA) alleging systemic failure said “we are also a victim of the corrupt system.”

Addressing media persons this morning at Kohima, the newly formed association ANPA general secretary, Limayanger claimed that the pharmacy community have been demonised by portraying them as ‘illegally’ operating their pharmacies while “we are also a victim of the corrupt system.’

ANPA president, Zhapuvilie Yashü said the issue of shortage of qualified and registered pharmacist is not a new thing as it is in existence since the formation of statehood.

The association informed that the state is facing acute shortage of registered pharmacists while citing the data provided by the department with 1157 pharmacies in Nagaland while there are only 278 registered pharmacists, out of which 252 are government employees.

Corrupt system?
Substantiating its stand why it is a ‘victim of the corrupt system,’ Limayanger maintained that pharmacies are not a vegetable shop that can operate blindly, as it has to follow certain procedures laid down by the department.

The department is alleged of issuing license without asking any certificate of registered pharmacist which is mandatory. Rather, Limayanger claimed that when he applied for license through an application, the department has provided the name of the registered pharmacy namely R.S. Chaudhury bearing registration number 334 (document was shown to the media personnel).

When asked, it was told that those who have connections get the license after paying certain amount of money ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 60,000/-, followed by renewal of licenses after every five years. 

“The actual system is when the licence is applied for the pharmacy, certificate must be produced but the department never asks us for a certificate” he stated.

Why ANPA was formed
When DH&FW started issuing orders to the pharmacies to appoint a registered pharmacist in the later part of 2021, Limayanger said, pharmacies in Nagaland took cognizance of the order and pharmacy union was formed in each district.

Subsequently, efforts were made to appoint registered pharmacist, while representations were submitted to the department citing the difficulties face the pharmacies due to shortage of qualified pharmacists and appealing for extension of time.

However, when the department started implementing the policy with earnestness, he said, the need for a state level association was felt necessary and the association was formed on March 14, 2025.

The Association submitted representation to the Principal Director, H&FW and the Controlling and Licensing authority for a reasonable extension of time with no positive response, while another representation was submitted to the Commissioner and Secretary H&FW with no positive outcome, and the representation to the Chief Minister is still awaited.

The association the attempt to meet the Health Minister was denied, and the appointment with the Chief Secretary is awaited.

No pharmacy institute in Nagaland
Nagaland, the association said, is the only state in India without a pharmacy institute and is facing acute shortage of qualified pharmacists, while India has introduced Diploma in Pharmacy courses to mitigate the shortfall of qualified pharmacists, but sill could not produce enough pharmacists.

It also claimed that while no state in India has thus far successfully implemented this policy, Nagaland is the first state trying to implement his policy.

Highlighting the ground reality based on various data, the Association said the ratio of pharmacy in Nagaland to the number of registered pharmacists is ‘quite disproportionate.’

Impact on public health sector
ANPA viewed that if the government is to implement this policy in its entirety, it will put the public health sector in complete disarray.

Presenting data to support its view, it stated that even in Kohima, some colonies like AG, Merhülietsa, Lerie etc will be left without a single pharmacy along with district like Meluri, Shamator and Phek.

‘Think about the sub-divisions and rural. There will be complete chaos’ it stated while also claiming that there’s no case in Nagaland where a patient’s life was either lost or put in jeopardy because of wrong medication administered by any pharmacy.

Need smooth transition
While asserting that ANPA fully understand the requirements mandated by laws and it is willing to abide by it, Limayanger said the drastic decision has caused inconvenience to all as there should be some alternatives for a smooth transition.

He questioned, if the government of Nagaland and the health department is equipped adequately to step in and fill the void, when the government is unable to even appoint qualified pharmacists in all the government run health units.

Currently, it said, the department is imparting 3-month training to the nurses who are dispensing medicines to the patients, Limayanger posited ‘should the same yardstick not be applied to both the pharmacies ad well as the government run public health units?’

The Association suggested that the department can come up with such programmes if they have the will and are concerned about the public health.

“ANPA is not against the department of the policy in question, but we are of the opinion that Nagaland is not equipped to implement this health policy at present” it stated and was optimistic that the department would come up with some workable arrangements till such time the state will have pharmacy institutes and sufficient qualified manpower to provide healthcare to the general public.

The association has also appealed the department and the government to allow the pharmacies to operate till such time the department comes with a concrete health policy that is relevant to the state and that public healthcare is not compromised.

“We assure that on our part, all efforts both individually and on an organisational capacity shall be made to employ a qualified registered pharmacist” the Association stated.