NMC not in agreement to allow pharmacists to write prescription: MoS Health

The National Medical Commission has not agreed to Pharmacy Council of India's proposal to allow pharmacists to write prescription, saying writing a prescription is dependent on examining patients and making a diagnosis, the government said on Friday.

Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said this in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

Pawar also said the recruitment of pharmacists in government hospitals, their salaries and the eligible qualification for becoming pharmacists in hospitals in any state is governed by the rules of the respective state.

However, she added, the Pharmacy Council of India has issued Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015, and amendments thereafter, as per which there is a provision for Pharm D graduates to work in the hospitals in various positions.

Besides, D Pharm and B Pharm graduates are eligible to work as community pharmacists in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient care, which optimizes the use of medication and promotes health, wellness and disease prevention.

Pawar said a Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory is functional in Guwahati in Assam.

The laboratory has tested 3,285 samples in 2022 as compared to 1,133 samples in 2018, she added.