Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Fridayurged the union government to safeguard the careers of over 20,000 medicalassistants of J&K by bringing them within the ambit of Central Pharmacy Act.In a statement to KNT , Bukhari said that themedical assistants of Jammu and Kashmir also fulfill the eligibility criteriafor availing a pharmacy license or applying for any government job exclusivelymeant for diploma or degree holders in pharmacy.“Around 20,000 medical assistants in J&K arewell trained in pharmacy who were eligible for pharmacy licenses under JKPharmacy Act prior to August 4, 2019 but have now unfortunately been excludedby the pharmacy council of India. This is a sheer discrimination with this brightand promising lot of professionals,” Bukhari questioned.He said that there seems to be no rationale behindexclusion of medical assistants from Central Pharmacy law which was madeapplicable to Jammu and Kashmir after October 2019. “Discrimination withmedical assistants who have completed their three years courses (including oneyear of training) duly recognized under JK Pharmacy Act is unjustifiable andthe issue needs to be addressed on a priority basis,” Bukhari advocated.He said that by widening the ambit of CentralPharmacy Act and making it genuinely inclusive shall dispel the notion ofunfairness and injustice felt by the J&K youth.
The candidates from J&K had opted for medical assistant courses conscientiously to make careersin pharmacy after completion of their courses successfully. However, thereplacement of the JK pharmacy act with central pharmacy law has shatteredtheir dreams of earning a dignified livelihood,” Bukhari opined.The JKAP president said by restricting the issuanceof pharmacy licenses to aspirants having Bachelors in Pharmacy and Diploma inPharmacy has jeopardized careers of thousands of medical assistants who havestudied the same subject with the same syllabus in government recognizedinstitutes across J&K.Bukhari expressed serious concern over the reportsthat despite being ineligible for pharmacy licenses and government jobs as perthe central pharmacy act, the government colleges in J&K are grantingadmissions to the students for medical assistant courses. “Even some studentsare presently pursuing medical assistant courses in various colleges. Thegovernment of J&K should come clear on this issue and stop the admissionsto such courses which are recognized under central pharmacy law,” he demanded.Bukhari said the new pharmacy law made applicableto J&K has made the future of thousands of qualified youth bleak. “Thegovernment of India should go for a one-time relaxation for those medicalassistants who have completed their training prior to August 4, 2019 and chalkout a policy for their absorption in the government sector,” Bukhari said,while demanding necessary amendments to the CPA so as to facilitate inclusionof medical assistant of J&K.He also urged the union health ministry to considermedical assistants eligible for issuance of pharmacy licenses and ensurelateral entry for those medical assistants who want to pursue their higherstudies in pharmacy, reads Bukhari’s statement.(KNT)