Prove the merits to improve the prospects!

MORE than a decade and a half has gone since introduction of the Pharm. D course in India.

- Prof. S. Balasubramanian

About 10 batches of students have completed the 6 years course and are roaming in India in search of suitable jobs. Pharmacy Council of India which has introduced the course with much fanfare seems to have washed its hands! There is still resistance or reluctance from the doctors to appoint these Pharm.

Ds as clinical pharmacists in our hospitals.

Doctor's apprehension

When a principal approached a big hospital to provide training for Pharm. D students, its chief doctor put forth the first condition that Pharm. Ds should not criticize doctor's prescription! We should understand that apprehension.

Nobody likes to be criticized, especially in front of their customers. Hence Pharm. Ds should take a pledge first, not to hurt the feelings of doctors for that matter, all the colleagues in the hospital. Such lessons and training are given to Pharm. D students, even then there is disbelief among the doctors, that's why the conditions as above. It may take some time to vanish, after the introduction of clinical pharmacy services in our hospitals. Thus Pharm. Ds should be aware of what is preventing their entry as clinical pharmacists.

Other concerns

Few other issues with the doctors are the prestige, ego and superiority complex with them.

They think if clinical pharmacists are appointed in words they may lose their importance and respect. To overcome such problems, a clinical pharmacist should play only second or third fiddle to a doctor as a subordinate assistant. Only by such behaviour can they lay their way. As of now there is no motorable, why, even walkable road ahead. First generation Indian clinical pharmacists have that great responsibility before them to make a way by tolerating the thorns and stones while laying the road.

How to do that?