Last Updated on December 31, 2023 by The Health Master
The Kerala Pharmacy Graduates Association (KGPA) has designed a strategic plan to train pharmacy graduates and students of undergraduate courses in pharmaceutical sciences (B Pharm) to access new opportunities that are expected to arise in various departments of the state government in the near future.
The online general body meeting of the association, which was held on November 1, elected new office-bearers. The executive committee held thereafter decided to launch several programmes for skill development and job training for the pharmacy graduates and the course pursuing students.
According to Dr P K Sreekumar, the newly elected president of the association, KPGA foresees more job opportunities for pharmacy graduates in the government sector in the years to come.
Multiple opportunities: The association will work with the respective departments to expedite work to compel the government to create more vacancies and follow up actions. He said multiple opportunities are awaited for pharmacy graduates in the capacities of:
- Drug inspectors,
- Drug analysts,
- Analytical chemists,
- Manufacturing chemists etc.
Even the state drug control department requires more than one hundred drug inspectors and fifty drug analysts.
Drug testing Lab: According to him, a lot of skilled personnel are required for the state owned manufacturing unit, Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (KSDP) Ltd and for the four government drug testing labs.
Since the labs have started functioning, the department has faced a shortage of drug inspectors to collect samples. All the labs together have the capacity to test 20,000 samples per year.
FDA Kerala: With the existing staff-strength, the drug control administration cannot draw even twenty percent of the total capacity. Currently, the number of inspectors including higher officers, is only 47 which is inadequate for drawing samples at least for one laboratory.
KPGA will apprise the government of the seriousness of the matter and make proposals for increasing the staff-strength of the department.
Technical Staff: Further, they will approach the industry minister with suggestions to increase the number of technical staff in KSDP where pharmacists can be appointed as analytical chemists, manufacturing chemists and quality assurance officers.
There are various other posts for pharmacists in the QA and QC departments. Sreekumar said KSDP is now struggling due to a staff shortage.
As regards the testing laboratories at Trivandrum, Konni, Kochi and Thrissur, large number of posts of analytical chemists are lying vacant. Despite repeated pressures, the government is not taking any positive step to fill them.
KPGA will conduct training programmes to prepare graduates in pharmacy who wish to appear for the written tests and interview to be conducted as part of the interview.
Till physical mode of classes is permitted, the association will conduct the training programme through online mode. Industry experts, academicians and experienced regulatory officers will participate in the programme as resource persons.
P U Abdul Nazeer is the new general secretary of KPGA. Dr. D Kala and Abdu Samad will act as vice presidents. Dr. R Sangeetha and Dr. Nishith MC have been elected as the Joint Secretaries and Sunil Kumar D as Treasurer.
The AGM has constituted a 12-member executive committee for a period of three years. Dr V Padmaja is the ex-officio member.
The association has decided not to merge with IPGA, the national body of pharmacy graduates, but support will be given for common issues faced by pharmacists in the country.
Office bearers 2021-2023:
Patrons
L.S. Shenoy
S.S. Venkata Krishna
President
Dr P.K. Sreekumar
Vice President
Abdusamad K.M.
Dr. Kala D
General Secretary
PU Abdul Nazeer
Joint Secretary
Dr. Nishith M.C.
Sangeetha R
Treasurer
Sunil Kumar D
Executive Committee members
Dr. Satheesh Kumar C.S.
Mathew Kokad
Dr. P Jayasekhar
Adv. Unnlkrishna Panicker M.K.
Ebrahim Sharafudeen
Dr. David Joseph Palayoor
Jaleel K.A.
Suresh Kamath P
Dr. K. Krishnakumar
Anil Kumar K.P.
Dr. Sandhya S
Dileep G
Ex-Officio
Dr. Padmaja V
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