Defying laws of supply, demand: Hospitals fall far behind WHO standard for pharmacists

Posts remain vacant while hundreds of graduates remain unemployed.

PESHAWAR:

Public sector hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) fall short of the required World Health Organization (WHO) standard of one pharmacist per 50 beds. However, thousands of qualified pharmacists remain jobless after graduation.

PhD research scholar Fazli Nasir works as an associate professor at the University of Peshawar (UoP). Every year nearly 600 students graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) degree from universities in K-P, Nasir told The Express Tribune. These include UoP, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Gomal University DI Khan, Hazara University Mansehra, University of Malakand, and University of Swabi.

“Thousands of qualified pharmacists remain unemployed or get jobs in private pharmaceutical companies on minimal salaries,” said Nasir.

Currently only seven pharmacists are employed at Lady Reading Hospital, a facility with 2,500 beds, he shared. Four pharmacists are employed at Khyber Teaching Hospital (1,700 bed capacity) and five work as clinical pharmacists in Hayatabad Medical Complex (1,200 bed capacity.)



“In 2009, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed all provincial health departments to ensure one pharmacist per 50 beds in public sector hospitals, however, the apex court’s orders have been violated. Only a handful handle pharmacy departments at hospitals,” said Nasir.

He claimed the government of Punjab has already filled all vacant posts of pharmacists in public hospitals. In Sindh and Balochistan, there are several vacant posts but not enough qualified professionals.

The government should not issue licences to community pharmacies which are being run without a qualified Pharm-D degree holder, demanded the scholar. To ensure higher pay scales, Nasir asked the federal government to fix a minimum salary for pharmacists employed at private companies.

According to an official of the provincial health department, hundreds of such posts remain vacant at district headquarters hospitals (DHQ) despite the Supreme Court’s orders.

“Hospital authorities and doctors are just not serious about tackling the issue; they don’t want someone to interfere in their work because pharmacists are meant to keep check and manage the quality and quantity of medicines,” said the official.

Saira Begum graduated from Gomal University DI Khan in 2009 and works as a pharmacist in a private pharmaceutical company in Hayatabad Industrial Estate. With three years of experience, Saira earns a paltry Rs14,000 per month.

“The expenditure of a Pharm-D student is close to Rs1 million and it takes five years to complete the programme. At the end of the day we don’t even make enough money,” shared Saira.

According to her, every pharmaceutical company in Hayatabad Industrial Estate pays Rs10,000 to fresh graduates which goes up to Rs14,000 after a few years.

“I am very discouraged by this – seriously considering quitting this field.”

K-P Health Department Special Secretary Akbar Khan told The Express Tribune a large number of pharmacist posts are lying vacant but cannot be filled because the province lacks financial resources.

“A majority of hospitals’ annual budget is spent on employee salaries while the remaining is allocated for patient welfare and medicines. If we create more posts for pharmacists in hospitals then the entire budget would be spent only on their salaries,” claimed the secretary.

“It is very difficult for K-P to meet the international standard as we face many challenges due to meagre financial resources.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2013.