Nurse-Cum-Pharmacist in Private Sector – Heated Issue

The Nurse-Cum Pharmacist course is going to be revived from this academic year after a gap of more than 11 years bringing to an end for the acute shortage of pharmacist in the department. According to the present indications one batch of 60 students each will be admitted at Govt Homoeo Medical College Calicut and Trivandrum and three private hospitals. The principal cum controlling officer of Govt Homoeo Medical College Trivandrum is the nodal officer to co-ordinate the conduct of the course. Previously it was decided to conduct the course at Trivandrum College for which applications were called for and candidates selected in 2000. But for unknown reasons the course was not started. Now after 4 years the nodal officer has called for expression of interest from private hospitals with full fludged Homoeopathy wing with minimum of 5 Doctors, class rooms, Anatomy Museum and many other basic facilities.

 It is known to all that there is not a single Homoeo Hospital fulfilling these requirements in Kerala. Naturally Allopathic Hospitals with political clout Jumped into the fray. Out of 11 applicants 3 were short listed, 2 at Calicut and 1 at Trivandrum. The inspection of these 3 were held by a team comprising The Nodal officer, The Director of Homoeopathy and the Secretary to Govt Health. It could be logically presumed that along with the two Govt colleges permission will be granted to these three colleges to conduct the course from this academic year.

At present the Dept. of homoeopathy is facing acute shortage of pharmacists to the extent that retired hands are appointed on daily wages and for that also sufficient hands are not available. Now there are around 100 vacancies of Pharmacist. According to the present plan 60 students each will be admitted in 2 Govt and 5 private institutions totaling 300 seats. From 1999-2000 no new Govt Homoeo Dispensaries are opened .

Since the Govt is slowly Withdrawing from service sectors the chances for opening of new institutions is remote. Out of the 300 students admitted a 100 will get job. What about the rest and the students who pass out in the subsequent batches? While the Govt colleges will be admitting students on merit, the private colleges will be doing so after collecting hefty donations. What will be the future of these students passing out after spending a hefty sum? Where will they get employment?

The whole scene will come to one question, that whether we need self financing colleges for conducting NCP course. Taking into account the requirement for the next 25 years the most sensible answer is an emphatic NO. The most prudent step that must be taken is to conduct two or three batches at the two Govt Homoeo Medical colleges and start further batches as and when the need arises. IHMA strongly protested against this movement and complained to the concerned authorities.