Enriching pharmacy profession aims at : Bangladesh Pharmacists Forum presents 12-point demands to Bangladesh Pharmacy Council
Staff Correspondent
An important discussion meeting was held between the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council of the Government of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Pharmacists Forum at the Pharmacy Council Auditorium on Sunday.
With the aim of enriching the pharmacy profession in Bangladesh and enhancing professional and educational standards, the Bangladesh Pharmacists Forum presented a 12-point demand to the Council.
The meeting was presided over by the Secretary of the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council, Mohammad Mahbubul Haque and it was attended by Md. Azibur Rahman, President, Bangladesh Pharmacists Forum, Mehedi Hasan Tanvir, General Secretary; Md. Saddam Hossain, Education and Research Secretary, Nurul Islam Nahid, Assistant Secretary for Education and Research Affairs; along with other forum leaders.
Secretary Mohammad Mahbubul Haque welcomed the forum leaders and praised their initiatives for the advancement of the pharmacy profession. He also highlighted the measures taken by the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council for the implementation of hospital pharmacy and the improvement of professional standards.
President Md. Azibur Rahman said, the Ministry of Health has taken the initiative to establish approximately 700 government pharmacies across the country through a government hospital pharmacy network, which is highly commendable. He assured that the Forum would provide full support for the successful implementation of this initiative. He also mentioned that there are already more than 22,000 registered graduate pharmacists in the country, and around 8,000 students are currently studying pharmacy across 46 universities.
He emphasized the need for the implementation of hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, and the prompt introduction of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Besides, Md. Azibur Rahman praised the initiatives taken by the government and showed respect to Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman's remarks, where he stated, "Only under the supervision of graduate pharmacists can medicine shops be transformed into proper pharmacies." General Secretary Mehedi Hasan Tanvir proposed the inclusion of subjects such as Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapeutics in the Bachelor of Pharmacy syllabus to support hospital pharmacy activities, and suggested extending the course duration from four years to five years. He also recommended introducing a six-month internship program in hospitals. 12- point demand presented for the professional development of pharmacists include :
1. To successfully implement hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, and community pharmacy services, the Pharmacy Council must proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Health by collecting necessary documents and providing continuous intellectual and technical assistance. This will make the implementation process stronger and more effective.
2. The Bangladesh Pharmacists' Forum warmly welcomes the announcement made by the Honorable Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant (holding the status of State Minister at the Ministry of Health), Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, regarding the establishment of a nationwide pharmacy network under the supervision of graduate pharmacists.
To ensure the successful implementation of this significant initiative, the Pharmacy Council must swiftly launch the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program and arrange sufficient training facilities to produce skilled graduate pharmacists.
3. Gradually, all Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) programs at both public and private universities must be transformed into Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs. Considering the growing importance of hospital and clinical pharmacy services, the Pharmacy Council must officially annul the outdated curriculum and mandate the inclusion of the following courses in both B.Pharm and PharmD programs- Pharmacotherapy, pharmaceutical care, patient safety, forensic medicine, ambulatory care,internal medicine, pharmacogenomics, pharmacoepidemiology and nuclear pharmacy
4. After the implementation of hospital pharmacy services, it is crucial to formulate and enforce a clear career development plan for pharmacists. Therefore, the following positions should be gradually created and institutionalized pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Senior Pharmacist, Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy Director
5. To ensure effective supervision of pharmaceutical services, a high-level Director should be appointed, and a separate Directorate of Pharmacy should be established.
6. In all government and private sector recruitment notices, the term "Diploma Pharmacist" must be specifically mentioned for diploma holders. The Pharmacy Council must actively oversee this matter.
