Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has proposed ‘one time relaxation’ to nearly 15,000 pharmacists who have acquired the pharmacy registration on the basis of work experience over the years.
Official sources told Kashmir Reader that the administrative council headed by the Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu has asked government of India to relax rules for the J&K under Pharmacy Act 1948 so that the pharmacists who have been practicing since many decades won’t lose their livelihood.
The proposal prepared by the health and medical education department has sought necessary amendments in the Pharmacy Act 1948 to accommodate all the experienced pharmacists registered under J&K Pharmacy Act 2011 before re-organisation of the erstwhile state on October 31, 2019, said a health department official.
“The proposal has clearly been pitched to benefit local pharmacists registered on the basis of matriculation qualification under J&K Pharmacy Act 2011. Their number is huge as 90 percent of the chemists belong to this category,” he said.
The official said that if the request of the LG is approved by the central drug department, it will benefit nearly 15,000 pharmacists.
“They can practice on their respective shops without any legal hassle as the Pharmacy Act 1948 allows only the registration of degree and diploma holders,” official said.
The move came after some pharma trade professionals including the chemists and druggists expressed apprehension that they will lose their jobs due to the implementation of central act which came into force in the UT of J&K on October 31, 2019.
Many pharma trade bodies including the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists also appealed the Drug Controller General of India to bring necessary amendments in the act so that the pharmacists of J&K won’t lose their livelihood.
Local chemists and druggists associations also met the Lieutenant Governor and sought his intervention after reports about the job losses.
“It’s a humanitarian issue directly related to our livelihood. Lieutenant governor was kind enough to help us after we met him. We are hopeful that his efforts will be paid off,” said President J&K Chemists and Druggists Association (JKCDA).

Manzoor ul-Hassan