Dear pharmacist, I was just browsing blindly when I came across a blog dated 2007. The reading took me back to 2 decades old feel that resulted in my write up 'MYTHS & REALITIES' in pharmacy that was published in pharmatimes, republished in IFP journal from switzerland and the article now available in BRITISH LIBRARY DIRECT - LONDON. I am unable to upload the scanned copy of my write up as I dont know how to upload the copy. Please go through the blog in the link given below: http://www.medicusmundi.ch/mms/services/bulletin/bulletin104_2007/chapte... Quote: [Bulletin von Medicus Mundi Schweiz Nr. 104, Mai 2007 The potential of a health professional The pharmacist - a neglected workforce? Pharmacists represent the third largest healthcare professional group in the world. The majority of pharmacists practice in private retail pharmacies, few in hospitals and other medical facilities. However, pharmacists are hardly ever mentioned as key health professional. They tend to run under "others". Pharmacists have been a neglected healthcare workforce. Yet, pharmacists can make a unique contribution to the outcome of drug therapy, to their patients' quality of life and to public health. Pharmacists have a critical role to play and a gap to fill in the health workforce........] Unquote: Days of calling ourselves a pharmacist patting each other and continue to work in the out-dated mode by Sitting in stores, behind the counter is getting over. Machines, softwares, bussiness professionals and bio-technology and other professionals would quietly replace us. The only way out is to accept the ground reality, prepare to meet the reality and change the working style, become more professional with maximum technical input to make pharmacist an indispensable professional. Of course we have our own limitations. Even multinational chain shops are also just following the typical Indian mode and the hope that a better working module would be available from them was only a myth. Our pharma academic and professional policy makers should immediately wake up and take such measures that provides very active, respectable and responsible position and role in the National Health Policy and Health care programs. Pharmacy colleges should realize that the students would be comfortable and study with dedication only if there are buyers for the skill and qualification. So to say, the institutions should market their product instead of simply milling out the pharmacists with a diploma or a degree. The days are highly challenging: Pharmacists have to compete with Science, Bio-technology, Business and other non-conventional pharma graduates including 'Street-smart' guys. These professionals study exactly what the market wants as their course curriculum are prepared and regularly updated by experts from the field unlike the pharmacy curriculum which are prepared by class room teachers and updated perhaps once in a decade. The chances are that they score a point or two more than the pharmacy students What is to be done? Constitute a core committee with mix of filed professionals and academics. Update the syllabus at least once in three years. Pharm D students students and senior logistic experts should teach D Pharm students in the hospital and pay them for the service. Let the second year D Pharm be taught only in the hospital by the clinical pharmacist and senior logistic experts. Bottom line: Pharmacist has no future in health care and in community sector unless the National Health Policy and National Health care programs recognize the importance of pharmacy and pharmacist