Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman has said diploma pharmacists play a vital role in improving the quality of healthcare, ensuring safe medicine management and expanding health services to grassroots levels.
“Pharmacists work as frontline professionals at every stage, from medicine production to ensuring patients receive quality medicines in the correct dosage. Ensuring their professional dignity, legitimate rights and a suitable working environment is essential for a modern healthcare system,” he said.
Ruman made the remarks at a discussion titled “Role, Rights and Future Course of Action of Diploma Pharmacists in the Health Sector” at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday.
He said doctors diagnose diseases and provide treatment advice, while pharmacists are responsible for the technical aspects of ensuring the safe and proper use and storage of medicines.
“New posts for diploma pharmacists should be created and regular recruitment increased at all levels of the healthcare system, particularly at upazila health complexes and rural hospitals. Otherwise, ordinary people will be deprived of quality pharmaceutical services,” he said.
The additional press secretary said the government was committed to eliminating professional discrimination and ensuring postings based on skills and expertise.
“The government will take effective measures in consultation with the Ministry of Health to create promotion opportunities for diploma pharmacists, address pay disparities and ensure a favourable working environment,” he said.
Ruman said diploma pharmacists could establish a strong position both nationally and globally by continuously improving their knowledge and skills.
At the discussion, representatives of diploma pharmacists and health experts from across the country highlighted various challenges and workplace issues.
Speakers said international health standards recommend at least one pharmacist for every four doctors, but both public and private hospitals in Bangladesh face a shortage of pharmacists.
Pharmacist leaders placed several demands, including introducing full-fledged hospital pharmacy management in all public and private hospitals and ensuring medicine dispensing through diploma pharmacists.
They also demanded immediate recruitment against newly created diploma pharmacist posts at upazila and union-level health centres, implementation of Grade-10 status, a consistent promotion policy after a specific period of service, a ban on antibiotic sales without prescriptions and mandatory operation of pharmacy counters by registered pharmacists.
Speakers also called for a specific and strategic roadmap to reform the healthcare sector. They stressed the need for doctors, nurses, medical technologists and pharmacists to work as an integrated team to improve healthcare quality.
Central leaders of the Diploma Pharmacist Association, health sector representatives, officials of professional organisations and senior journalists attended the event.
