By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 24: The Pharmacist Association of Meghalaya (PAM) on Saturday flagged concerns over the lack of employment opportunities for pharmacists in the state, urging Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to address the issue in the ongoing autumn session of the State Assembly.
In a memorandum submitted to the Health Minister, the Association president Emos John Syiemlieh informed that as per a reply to an RTI application, no recruitment had been conducted for sanctioned pharmacist posts within the Directorate of Health Services.
Syiemlieh appealed to the health minister and other legislators to take up the matter during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, emphasising the need for fair and inclusive recruitment processes that would allow all pharmacists to compete for available positions. The memorandum also called on the government to boost employment opportunities by establishing pharmaceutical industries and increasing manpower in healthcare facilities to meet Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
“We request to further increase the manpower of pharmacists to meet the IPHS standards in all the facilities such as district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, and sub-centres,” the association stated.