Thursday 11 January 2018

Good news for pharmacist: Karnataka State Pharmacy Council supports registered pharmacists with social welfare scheme amount of Rs.1 lakh

The Karnataka State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) is working to ensure that all its registered pharmacists are supported through a social welfare scheme Karnataka Pharmacy Council Registered Pharmacist Welfare Trust (KPCRPWT) with a concern on the welfare of the pharmacist and his/her family.
 initiative is through the Council’s Registered Pharmacists Welfare Trust where a one-time contribution of Rs.4,200 is made with the application. The amount of contribution can be varied if so desired by the Trustees from time to time.

Although the social welfare scheme was introduced in 1998, the Council has now ensured registration of all practicing pharmacists who could avail the benefits. As per the Council records, Karnataka accounts for 56,000 pharmacists. Of these 32,000 have sought registration renewal online as on 31st December, 2017 and balance are seen to have either shifted residences or working abroad or changed professions or deceased.

The social scheme is extended to all pharmacists in the age-group of 18-60 years. The benefits of the scheme will be extended only if the pharmacists renew their registrations annually to ensure that they are on the rolls of Karnataka State Pharmacy Council at the time of making a claim to the social welfare scheme contribution.

“We are concerned about the registered pharmacist’s future and therefore this was conceived to recognise the profession and the commitment of the pharmacist and his family,” Gangadhar V Yavagal, president, Karnataka State Pharmacy Council told Pharmabiz.

In the case of a medical claim, a partial disbursement of up to one-third of the minimum amount of Rs.1 lakh for the medical treatment is offered for serious illnesses such as cancer, cardiac surgery, kidney transplantation etc. “This however will be decided by the Trust executive committee on the merits of each case. Furthermore, many registered pharmacists have availed the benefit from the Trust,” he added. 

Since the Council has been stringent over the registration of pharmacists in the state, the whole process is streamlined. Its issue of identity cards and technology enabled registration certificate that have a digitally signed microchip embedded into paper indicates the authenticity of the official document which can be verified across the world through smart phones. The newly introduced mobile application too has simplified registration renewal for the pharmacists. Efforts to appoint pharmacy inspectors are on the cards. All these will bring in the much required transparency, efficiency and professionalism to the career of a pharmacist. Besides, pharmacists will get the much-wanted recognition as his role is indispensable in the healthcare service, noted Yavagal.