Pharmacists rent registration certificates

Hyderabad: Pharmacists who are not finding jobs in the healthcare industry have been lending out their registration certificate to chemists stores for a rent of anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,00,000 per annum.

Renting out registration certificate to others is illegal and has been bringing a bad name to the industry, but pharmacists say they are left with little choice and have to do it out of desperation for money. 

In a nation-wide protest going on since December 2017, pharmacists have been demanding implementation of pharmacy practice regulations to curb the malpractices of dispensing of off-the-counter non-prescribed medicines and dispensation of only the necessary dosage of medicines. 

Dr Sai Kumar Katam, a senior pharmacist, said, “We want the Central government to direct all state governments to implement the PPR and Drugs and Cosmetics Act. This will help curb all malpractices currently ailing the industry. Also, pharmacists who do not get jobs must not succumb to tactics like giving out their licences for rent.” 

Another senior pharmacists said, “Actions of a few who are in jobs or have other businesses is affecting all who want to work in the field of medicine. People who are renting out their registration certificate have a proper job and are not jobless. Had they been jobless, they would be standing by us in protest.” 

The PPR Act is in force only in three states —Kerala, Haryana and Karnataka. All other states are yet to enforce it. 

Pharmacist Dr Ravi Kumar, said, “There is need for drug control at government and private levels. While in the private sector, the accredited hospitals do follow the system, the other smaller hospitals are casual about it. At one time, there was a scarcity of qualified pharmacists; now when they are available, hospitals are not employing them.” 

The industry is not getting the recognition due to it like in the West, about which pharmacy students are very sore with the government and the healthcare industry.