Call for introducing effective national drug policy

Government must introduce an effective national drug policy to ensure better health care facilities to the masses, said Dr Mohammad Khalid Yousuf, President, Pakistan Society of Health-system Pharmacists (PSHP), here on Friday. Speaking to the media persons at Karachi Press Club (KPC), he urged the government to make appointment of pharmacist mandatory for every 50-bedded public and private sector hospital.
"Ignoring the role of pharmacist in healthcare services could make delivery of quality medicines to patients almost impossible," he said. Dr Khalid said PSHP was going to organise an international one-day conference on September 5, 2015 to equip the pharmacists of the country with the advancements in pharmacy. He said Osarna Tabbara ,Senior Director, Cleveland Clinic of Abu Dhabi has been invited specially to the conference to elucidate the role of robotics in pharmacy and its impact on quality drug delivery system.
"An MoU is also expected to be signed by the two countries to create employment opportunities abroad for our pharmacists," he added. General Secretary, PSHP, Jamshed Ahmed said that the society was founded in 2007 with the aim of elucidating the role of pharmacist in ensuring the provision of quality medicines in the health care system. He said the conference would not only provide awareness to pharmacists on the global best practices, but would also facilitate in job creation especially in hospitals.
He further said that top management of the hospitals, including CEOs & MSs have also been invited to sympathetically view the situation and help PSHP in this cause. Dr Arif Ali said that the society was ready to join hands with government institutions to introduce pharmacy services which would directly benefit the patients and help in avoidance of complications arising during the treatment. He said the aim of upgrading pharmacy degree to doctorate was to enhance the role of clinical pharmacy. "At present 34 governments and private colleges/universities are affiliated with Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, producing around 4000 pharmacy graduates every year," he concluded.