BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI : The Indian Pharmacists Association (IPA) has requested the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to maintain a respectful attitude towards other professionals of Indian health system saying, “We are of the opinion that issues raised by IMA are hypothetical.”

This is in the context of the IMA recently opposing the PCI decision of allowing those receiving Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree to prefix 'Dr' before their name.

Bhupendra Kumar, Secretary General, Indian Pharmacist Association, said, “Pharmacy Council of India is a statutory body governed by the provisions of Pharmacy Act passed by the Parliament.”

He warned, “It would be unethical for any non statutory body to discourage statutory body like PCI.”

Giving some facts, the IPA, in a statement, said, “All the doctorate degree holders are entitled to prefix ‘Dr’ with their respective name. Your isolated objections against prefixing ‘Dr’ to doctor of pharmacy are unpalatable and unwarranted.”

“We observed that in quite many cases, medical doctors are practicing the profession of pharmacy, in violation of Drugs and Cosmetic Act and Pharmacy Act,” it said.

IMA is either ignoring or not aware that research to manufacturing of a medicine is done by pharmacists, and 99.9 per cent diseases are treated with medicines, said the PCI.

It further asked: “Nurses and AYUSH doctors have already occupied medical doctors position in the name of community health officer. Why IMA is silent in that matter?”