'6.5 mn hearts may stop beating by 2015'

Making this startling revelation at a seminar organised as part of Pharmacy Week at Sarada Vilas College here on Thursday, JSS University Vice-chancellor Dr B Suresh said ‘35 per cent of the diseases are caused by consumption of wrong medicines and also side effects’.

No knowledge

Ironically, doctors as well as pharmacists are unaware of most of the drugs available in the market, thanks to an estimated 80,000 drugs in the market, said Suresh also President of Pharmacy Council of India.

On education front, the vice-chancellor said plans are afoot to train D Pharma students on the positive effects of drugs. It is only after that they will be conferred with degrees. Only those who have an experience of five years either in hospital or pharmacy are eligible for the course.

For pharmacists

He appealed to the pharmacists not to restrict themselves to their job, but also evince interest in creating awareness among public by counselling them. This would enable the authorities to involve pharmacists too in the realm and check the side affects.

Dr B Suresh, State Pharmacy Council Chairman Dr D A Gundurao and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Pharmacy Faculty Dean Dr M S Srinath were felicitated on the occasion.

Sarada Vilas Educational Institutions Chairman B S Ranga Iyengar, member Dr T S Satyanarayan, Principal Dr K Joshi Hanumanthacharya were present.

Valedictory of the celebrations has been organised at the college premises on November 26 at 4 pm.