Nurses protest diktat to assist pharmacists

Nurses in the State are in an uproar over a recent health department circular that stipulates that nursing staff – owing to their knowledge of medicine – must assist pharmacists in government healthcare centres.

The Trained Nurses Association of India’s Gujarat branch, which has close to 12,000 members, have contended the move stating that nurses were involved with patient care and cannot be mandated to assist pharmacists as part of their duties.

Aletter issued by the apex body called for a rollback of the decision, citing that nursing was an ‘independent profession’ and nurses were not paramedical staff that could assist pharmacists.

The circular in question was issued by the Additional Director of Medical Services in the health department on September 5, instructed that services of nursing staff having knowledge of medicines be used to assist pharmacists at primary health centres, community health centres and government hospitals in listing daily stock on e-software, to make register entries, create annual indents and make weekly-monthly reports. Sources close to the development also mentions that the circular came after Gujarat Pharmacy Association demanded data entry operators from health officials.

TNAI (Gujarat) Secretary Kirankumar V Domadia said the move was an ‘injustice’ to the profession. “Currently there is 30% shortage of nurses in State’s public health services. Our work is involved with patients and their care and is different from that of a pharmacist. While we can pitch in during an emergency, how can nurses be asked to take stock of medicines? Hopefully, the order will be reversed in coming days,” he says.

Five TNAI members met Health Commissioner Jayanti Ravi on Tuesday. Iqbal Kadiwala, VP of Gujarat Nursing Council, said: “We apprised her of our concerns. We have been told verbally that the notification will be pulled back. The mandate needs to be quashed to prevent protests from nurses who are already overburdened and face issues including low wages.”

PV Dave, Additional Director of Public Health at Health Commissionerate, told Mirror, “It was a temporary arrangement made to aid data entry into software E-Aushadi, as pharmacists also had to counsel patients. We are reviewing it.” E-Aushadi is a web-based supply chain management application that deals with purchase, inventory management and distribution of drugs, sutures and surgical items to hospitals and health centres.

  • Related Posts

    Chandigarh News: Dibar Pharmaceutical Company Misled PGI Through Fake Letter, Case Registered – Dibar Pharmaceutical Company Misled PGI Through Fake Letter, Case Registered

    Chandigarh:  A case has been registered against a pharmaceutical company for trying to mislead PGI by creating a fake letter from CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) Baddi to prove…

    Kushinagar News: Truck Was Traveling From Ghaziabad To Agartala, Mystery Revealed When It Overturned

    Case of codeine syrup being hidden among sugar sacks in a truck. After receiving the documents, the pharmaceutical department sent them to Ghaziabad and Agartala and started investigation. Kushinagar/Rahsu Bazaar.…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Spurious drugs: Maiden Pharma blacklisted, all contracts cancelled

    Spurious drugs: Maiden Pharma blacklisted, all contracts cancelled

    DCC Calls For Strict Implementation Of Revised Schedule M, State-Level Activities To Address AMR

    DCC Calls For Strict Implementation Of Revised Schedule M, State-Level Activities To Address AMR

    Sanofi, Cipla Join Hands To Expand Reach Of CNS Portfolio In India

    Sanofi, Cipla Join Hands To Expand Reach Of CNS Portfolio In India

    Cyberabad Police Seize 1 Kg Alprazolam, Arrest Three

    Cyberabad Police Seize 1 Kg Alprazolam, Arrest Three

    Lee Health develops natural capsule for effective Heart care

    Lee Health develops natural capsule for effective Heart care

    Medical Shop Run By Twenty20 In Kizhakkambalam Asked To Shut Down

    Medical Shop Run By Twenty20 In Kizhakkambalam Asked To Shut Down