BHubaneswar: The government’s order allows pharmacists to treat people who suffer from 12 diseases including malaria, fever, respiratory tract infections, scabies and ringworm with the absence of doctors have aroused a mixed response of medial brotherhood, pharmacists and the general public.
Sexy doctors and pharmacists say such an official setting is needed because pharmacists continue to serve patients with the absence of a doctor.
However, many, said the government must post at least two doctors in the hospital so that at least one is available to serve at a certain time point.
“This is a welcome step because the pharmacist still treats patients with the absence of a doctor.
However, it would be better if the government ensured at least two doctors posted in the hospital so that at least one was there when the other passed,” said Narayan Rout, president of the service association Medical Odisha (OMSA), a doctor’s body in government services.
Nirakar Bhatt, his predecessor at OMSA, however, said the government had to focus on recruitment and posting doctors instead of giving their assignments to pharmacists and nurses.
The Association of the Odisha Pharmacist Service President Naveen Mohapatra said the government’s move had long matured.
“In fact, the plan was debated in 2018.
However, at that time the government thought with more post doctors it would not be needed.
Many primary health centers have one doctor or no doctor at all.
In such situations, except pharmacists are allowed to treat with Drugs from the government supply, poor patients must be spent buying drugs from the market, “said Mohapatra.
The government’s order in 2003 has allowed pharmacists to provide certain drugs, which are mostly not used now.
That is why the latest order that determines drugs and diseases is needed, he said.
Biswahit Mohanty, a social activist, said the government’s decision was stupid and dangerous.
“Life is a risky patient without a recipe by qualified doctors,” he said.
The government trip came five days before the deadline of September 27 The Orissa High Court for the government to come up with a deadline plan to fill doctor vacancies.