“Pharmacy is not all about dispensing drugs. Pharmacists have equal and even more responsibility than surgeons and dentists,” said Pharmacy Council of India (New Delhi) Executive Committee member Prof K Chinnaswamy.

Speaking at the one day refresher course on ‘Good dispensing practice,’ organised under the joint aegis of Karavali College of Pharmacy, Karnataka State Pharmacy Council (Bangalore) and D K District Chemists and Druggists Association, at Karavali College of Pharmacy in Vamanjoor near here on Sunday, he said the involvement, commitment and quality of service rendered by pharmacists should be increased, which can be done only through upgrading knowledge.

Every pharmacist must talk to his customer, he advised, adding that a cadre of pharmacists must be created who will serve the poor and the needy.

IPA (Education Division) Secretary Prof T V Narayana pointed out that though there are 8 lakh registered pharmacists in India, they are still being labelled as traders. This is despite the fact that pharmacy industry has business worth $ 5 billion and 625 pharma educational institutions.

Meanwhile, a proposal to amend the Pharmacy Act has been submitted to the Central government to change the syllabus for diploma and degree pharma courses so that they become more relevant. Around 65 per cent of the people are still deprived of pharmacy services, he noted.

Karnataka State Pharmacy Council (Bangalore) President D A Gundu Rao said, “If you have to live in this profession, you have to upgrade your knowledge. Continuing education programmes is being made compulsory for pharmacists as per an amendment to the Pharmacy Act.”

Karavali Group of Colleges Chairman S Ganesh Rao said the entire pharma family has come together for the programme and this should be the spirit forever.