The questions and challenges ahead of us

2011-11-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

Well well...

Firstly I would like to thank the guys who responded with their intention of getting interested in the blog. This is my first professional blog and I expect the same response from you guys to promote the interest to involvement.

To talk a bit about myself,
I am a guy who completed my bachelors at india, pursued masters in Pharmaceutical analysis at Kingston University, London and did my PG. Dip in Pharmacy at University of Brighton and half way through my M. RpharmS (precisely a foreign format of M. Pharm. I dreamt, brain stormed and always tried hard to find the answers for the typical questions (or shall I say the miseries) an Indian pharmacy student mind boggles with. My main moto has always been, is and will be about how to reform the way pharmacy is practiced at India. The questions I am penning down are completely my opinions and may not be completely meaningful as that of others...

I personally hate big junks of words which probably may pump up the levels of frustration in my mind. Hence, I want to discuss the matter in following sub-sections to facilitate you read the whole lot as a story.

1) Pharmacy from the minds of common population:
I happened to visit my aunt's village before I joined pharmacy and found it terribly surprising to hear from majority of the population about the way they understand pharmacy. The most common question I faced was... "What is Pharmacy? and what do you study in Pharmacy?". I've tried to explain it in different ways but the best one chosen by me was to simply say "well, pharmacy is the study about drugs, (chemicals)". Astonishingly the next statements from the people were very embarrassing and the worst one I've heard was "Oh! So you are the guys who work under the board saying you test urine, stools, sputum and sperm?". I do accept that we are at the very core part of all these tests and their analysis. The next question that struck my mind was that many unqualified persons do the same tests and why do I need to be a pharmacist for that? How ever I am an optimist and I do believe that things changed since 2004 (the year I joined pharmacy).

I have known and evidenced many people coming to the local pharmacy shops asking the pharmacist about any health related problems they have (like an infection under their trousers) and the pharmacist gives him a medication soon after having a look at it or asking a couple of questions. Why do we need doctors in that case?

Some pharmacists say "Oh Sir, I do not have this Penicillin V tablets in stock. I will give you some of these Amoxicillin. Its new, cheaper and more effective." The main thing that the patient worrying about the cost of the prescription HEARS is "CHEEAAAAPER". But is the pharmacist really concerned about what he is doing there? Did he think of any potential interactions the medication may have with the other medications the patient takes? Just suppose that the patient was on a drug with very narrow Therapeutic Index and dies the next morning in his sleep as a result of systemic toxicity. The elderly relatives of the patient sit by the side of his body and say crying "He was the ideal example of Gentle man. He never smoked or consumed alcohol. Was a good father and husband. He did a lot of good deeds and hence died in his sleep without any struggles. God always takes away the good people early." At the end of the street the typical Indian Pharmacist (or shall I say the guy who practices under the "Certificate of the Pharmacist" clinging high on the wall) opens the shop, does his prayer lighting a dhoop stick (just like every morning) greets the till (money box) looks in to the street and waves his hand to a friend of the dead patient. After hearing the news from him he also says "Oh my goodness, He came to me yesterday, had a good chat with me and left to pick his child from school. Aww! I really feel sorry for him. May god bless him with a peaceful place in heaven." Awww! How sweet... Bless the Indian Pharmacist (Or who ever comes in to your picture.).

2) Curriculum and Academics:

I lay my main emphasis on the overall pharmaceutical standards of India. So, if we ask ourselves how the developed nations are maintaining the standards when every individual is different, the answer would surely be RULES & REGULATIONS. If the policies and procedures are in place to avoid any discrepancies to creep in, establishment of golden standards is obvious. Where is our country in this regard?

I also appreciate your words that every thing points out at the curriculum. We are always taught to blossom as excellent industrial pharmacists and shine there forth. The curriculum is not up to the clinical standards of the developed and many other developing nations. There are many other things we are not aware of. Which of our books can educate any one who is well focused to practice pharmacy in a flawless manner? If there are some books which are capable, are they from PCI or the Indian Pharmacopoeia committee? Are they really reliable? New infections, illnesses, cautions, contradictions, compliance issues, interactions and side-effects arise every day. So how often are they updated and published as a digest to our pharmacists? Developed nations (or shall I say the nations in which pharmacy is practiced up to the standards) have an instant answer for these questions.

Discussing the other part,

How often is Indian Pharmacopoeia updated?

How many of I.P editions have we got?

3) MNCs and Industrial Progress:

About the industrial sector,

India is the "GENERIC GIANT". MNCs come to India and say in front of a big mob that India is excelling in the pharmacy sector. But did we ever think why they say so? Well this is completely my opinion. I personally think and believe that the environmental and pollution regulations set by the developed nations do not allow them to easily set an industry and proceed a bulk manufacture. Synthesis is fine and smooth running. But discarding the by-products and reaction wastes is a big hassle. The by-products need to be processed and need to under go further reactions to result in more environmental friendly products. Some times the processing of by-products cost more than the drug manufacture itself. But the companies do not hesitate because of the market value and potential the drug has. I do not want to take name of any company but I know a company that synthesizes an ancient drug group which is used widely to treat certain diseases in African population. The particular drug was banned by many countries due to the environmental risk factors and the so stated company is the only manufacturer. It contributes a major part of the companies economy because of which the management never would seize the manufacture. Being the only manufacturer, the company holds the total global share of the drug (of course there is no share at all).

What else about our excellence?

Do we have countless PRODUCT PATENTS?

How ,any patents in total do we have?

Are we trained to work life long for the advancement of others (countries') achievements?

How long does it take for a B.Pharm student to earn a decent income?

How intellectual are we in pharmacy?

No doubt our thoughts were expended for the better future. But the question is which way are we putting it and for whose whose better future? Simply we are being the MECHANICS for the smooth running of MOTORCYCLES. But the fact we are forgetting is that we once were the actual AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERS who striven a lot and accomplished the basis. Ancient "Ayurveda" laid a golden path to the modern pharmacy. We were the country that taught pharmacy to the world. But where are we at present. I do not need to mention the pains our ancestors like CHARAKA, SUSHRUTHA and PARASARA took as we all know better about it. There are many more books that need to come in to light which are as much and even more valuable than "CHARAKA SAMHITHA".

MY INTENTION IS NOT (and never will be) TO COMMENT INDIAN PHARMACY BUT TO AWAKEN AWARENESS AND REMIND THE FORGOTTEN GLORY. WE CAN DO A LOT MORE... BETTER THAN ANY ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

Sorry if there are any mistakes grammatical or professional

Tired and will return tomorrow...

Best regards,
Ravi K

Introduction

2011-11-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

To introduce myself,
Firstly I am a B.Pharm student qualified from a well named college of Andhra Pradsh, India. I here by humbly submit that the whole an sole intention of blogging is to put my thoughts together and provoke an awareness for the change of the way pharmaceutical profession is practiced in India. Being a developing nation, India is facing high pressures economically, socially and politically. But considering the facts about the minimum needs of human beings, the recent situations added up a big pile to the list among which medicines are surely a crucial part and parcel. A common cold or a simple headache do not essentially demand a surgical procedure but needs a pill to eliminate the root cause or say for a symptomatic relief. How practical is it to imagine a world without any pharmacist or a pharmaceutical. Is a doctor completely equipped to fight the battle of ailments without medicines or pharmacists? In this blog I wanna concentrate on the answers for the simple question "How much social responsibility is shouldered by an Indian Pharmacist?". I welcome any kind of questions regarding the blog and in the next post I will post the Dilemmas left unattended and the chaos they cause to India and the other countries like and miserable than ours.

Indian Pharmacy

The questions and challenges ahead of us

Introduction