Lucknow: Lucknow witnessed a grand celebration of Pharmacist Rights Day organized by the Youth Pharmacist Federation (YPF) on its foundation day. The event began with a blood donation drive and fruit distribution to patients at Civil Hospital, where 10 pharmacists donated blood.
Addressing the gathering, Drug Commissioner Brajesh Kumar emphasized that pharmacists are integral to society, akin to family members. He assured that the Department of Pharmaceuticals would provide full support to pharmacists, ensuring the availability of quality medicines while combating counterfeit drugs.
Pharmacist inspectors Nilesh Sharma and Sandesh Maurya urged pharmacists to stay updated on ADR (Adverse Drug Reactions), side effects, dosages, usage, and drug interactions to benefit the public.
The event saw widespread participation, including pharmacists from urban, community, hospital, and clinical sectors. YPF president Sunil Yadav highlighted the pivotal role of pharmacists in ensuring safe and effective medication use, patient education, and cost-effective healthcare through generic drugs.
A memorandum containing a 14-point request was submitted to the Chief Minister, including demands for pharmacist appointments in Urban Health Centers and employment generation.
YPF Secretary Ashok Kumar mentioned that Pharmacist Rights Day was celebrated across the state with seminars, rallies, and awareness programs. Notably, the Federation raised concerns about the non-implementation of the National Health Policy’s provision for deploying pharmacists in wellness centers, alongside the demand for mandatory pharmacist involvement in medicine distribution.
Prominent attendees included Federation Chairperson KK Sachan, Senior Vice President JP Nayak, Vice Presidents Rajesh Singh and Subhash Srivastava, and numerous other leaders. Distinguished guests, including senior officials and media representatives, were honored for their contributions.
Pharmacists from diverse disciplines, such as homeopathy, ayurveda, and veterinary medicine, united under a single platform, showcasing solidarity and advocating for enhanced rights and recognition.
