Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon on Tuesday said diploma pharmacists play a vital role in improving healthcare services, ensuring safe medicine management and taking quality care to the grassroots.
He said pharmacists work on the frontline at every stage, from the production of medicines to ensuring that patients receive quality drugs in the correct dosage.
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“Ensuring their professional dignity, legitimate rights and a suitable working environment is essential for building a modern healthcare system,” Rumon said at a national discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.
The discussion, titled “Role, Rights and Future Course of Action of Diploma Pharmacists in the Health Sector,” was attended by diploma pharmacists and health experts from different parts of the country.
Rumon said while doctors diagnose diseases and prescribe treatment, pharmacists have an important technical responsibility in ensuring the proper and safe use of medicines.
He stressed the need to create more positions and increase regular recruitment of diploma pharmacists at different levels of the healthcare system, particularly at upazila health complexes and rural hospitals.
Otherwise, the additional press secretary said, ordinary people may be deprived of quality pharmaceutical care.
He said the government is sensitive to addressing professional disparities and ensuring appointments based on skills and qualifications.
Rumon said effective steps will be taken, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to create opportunities for promotion, address pay disparities and ensure a better working environment for diploma pharmacists.
Speakers at the programme also highlighted a shortage of pharmacists in both public and private hospitals and raised several demands, including the introduction of fully-fledged hospital pharmacy management and ensuring medicine distribution through qualified pharmacists.
They also called for creating more diploma pharmacist posts at upazila and union-level health centres, implementing the 10th grade, ensuring promotion opportunities and taking steps to stop the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions.
The speakers warned that misuse of medicines and antimicrobial resistance are emerging as major public health concerns, particularly due to the widespread practice of purchasing antibiotics and painkillers without proper medical advice.
Rumon, in his closing remarks, said the health sector must become more digital and technology-friendly to build a modern and smart Bangladesh.
He urged diploma pharmacists to continuously update their knowledge and skills to strengthen their position both at home and internationally.
Leaders of the Diploma Pharmacists Association, representatives of the health sector, officials of professional organisations and senior journalists were also present.