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

    Glenmark Pharma’s US arm launches Latanoprost’s bioequivalent solution

    Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said that US-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched Latanoprost Ophthalmic Solution. The aforementioned solution is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug Xalatan Ophthalmic Solution of…

    HC denies bail to pharma company owner for manufacturing spurious drugs

    Shimla:  The Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday declined bail to the owner of pharmaceutical company M/s Glenmars Healthcare in the Baddi area of Solan district, from where a huge…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.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

    You Missed

    Cipla in talks to add new customers for its China factory, executive says

    Cipla in talks to add new customers for its China factory, executive says

    No link between COVID-19 vaccines & sudden deaths: ICMR-AIIMS Study

    No link between COVID-19 vaccines & sudden deaths: ICMR-AIIMS Study

    Delhi High Court asks DGCI to decide on plea against licensing of weight-loss drugs

    Delhi High Court asks DGCI to decide on plea against licensing of weight-loss drugs

    Microplastics found in brain, ovaries, and placenta: Experts warn of silent threat to vital organs

    Microplastics found in brain, ovaries, and placenta: Experts warn of silent threat to vital organs