Shillong, April 29: Meghalaya Pharmacists Association (MPA) has said the health department assured to fill up the vacant posts of pharmacists in the coming months.
The president of the association, Englebert Rynjah told reporters on Tuesday that the delegation met the health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and stressed the need for addressing the pharmacists’ concerns and professional issues.
Rynjah said as per RTI reply, till date no recruitment through advertisement has been taken up by the government for the sanctioned posts of pharmacists in the Directorate of Health Services.
“We therefore requested the department to initiate a fair and inclusive recruitment whereby all pharmacists, sponsored and non-sponsored candidates, are allowed to compete for the positions. In this regard, we were assured during the meeting with the minister that the department will come up with an advertisement for filling up all vacant posts in the coming months,” he said.
On the need to increase the manpower of pharmacists to meet the IPH standards in all the facilities, such as the District Hospital, CHCS, PHCs, and Sub-Centre, Rynjah said the delegation was assured that the department will make necessary amendment of the service rules to address the issue.
Regarding the demand for appointment of more Drug Inspectors (DI) in the state, the president said the department has also assured to issue advertisements for filling up of vacant posts.
The association has asked the government to increase job opportunities for the youths who have completed pharmacy courses by inviting pharmaceutical industries to be set up in state to which the department assured to examine after resolving the issues of recruitment.
The association wanted transparency in the election of Meghalaya Pharmacy Council to ensure that qualified professionals are elected to represent the community.
“Based on our information, the last election for the council was held in 1996, and no elections have taken place since. We request the immediate revival of the council and the initiation of fresh elections in accordance with the Pharmacy Act, 1948, so that important matters can be addressed by a duly elected body,” the president said.
