[india-drug] Pharmacist and Doctor: Important Link (6)

["Dr. Pramil Tiwari, NIPER" <ptiwari@niper.ac.in>]

Pharmacist and Doctor: Important Link (6)
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Dear group members,

The observation of Mr. S. Gopal is very well placed and frank.

In my opinion, there are two issues to this; one - the indifference of the students to professional practice and secondly, breaking the ice with the doctors.  The timing of this debate is indeed important since a huge number of pharmacy graduates will be available in the next four years of time (more colleges have been started).

I often get an opportunity to interact to the younger students of B. Pharm. and M. Pharm. classes.  As pharmacy graduates, they often foresee themselves involved in the drug discovery/development and industry based job options. The placement record of any institution would endorse this.  In some of the viva-voce, even the best are unable to relate the theory to the practical aspects (as mentioned by Mr. Gopal).  So, the indifference of the students is one of the first issues that need to be addressed appropriately.  The silver lining is that one of my own ex-student now works with a corporate hospital and is very happy as a clinical pharmacist (and so is the employer).  In fact, I am unable to meet the additional demands of 4 more graduates to work as a clinical pharmacists (probably the reason is the indifference)!

Secondly, my personal working experience in pharmacy practice dept. confirms 
my belief that the first step towards the "confidence building" is demonstration of a high quality output. Through the opportunities of clinical posting and/or project work of the students and through the Medicine Information Centre, this has been possible.  We, now, work in close co-operation with the consultants on drug utilization studies and several 
other aspects of pharmaceutical care - which has been appreciated by the collaborating doctors.  I am to place on record the co-operation and encouragement received from clinicians, hospital administrators and medical directors of the hospitals we work with.  On a personal note, I am not at all disheartened about the complete picture as it is emerging. Yes, we are in a process of improvement, based on feedback (and needs) of the 
clinicians.

Finally, the phrase "our pharmacists need to upgrade themselves... ?is also seeing a positive change, wherever there is a will.  The Delhi Pharmaceutical Trust, to my knowledge, has been relentlessly pursuing the cause of advancing the public face of the pharmacists i.e. the chemists and druggists.  I am looking forward to the morning when someone on this group will post a message citing an example of the quality work performed by the pharmacists and that would change the phrase to "our pharmacists are 
improving/have improved upon their existing practices.?.  I have no doubt that the doctors will accept pharmacists as true healthcare professionals 
then!

Thanks for your patience,
Dr. Pramil Tiwari
Assoc Prof in Pharmacy Practice
NIPER, Mohali
(These are my personal views and should NOT be construed as the opinion of 
NIPER, Mohali in any manner whatsoever.)