Association wants TN govt to fill pharmacist posts

COIMBATORE: Pharmacists working in government hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) in Tamil Nadu have started a protest by sending letters to the principal secretary to the department of health and family welfare, seeking to fill vacant pharmacist posts in such facilities.
C Krishnamurthy, a district representative of the Tamil Nadu Government All Pharmacists Association said, in Coimbatore there were around 40 vacant posts, and all over the state, there were around 750 vacant posts.
“During this Covid-19 pandemic, pharmacists are going through a lot of work pressure because of this,” he said.
The association demanded that the state create more pharmacist posts. Krishnamurthy said they have sought 10 posts in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. They also demanded that he post of chief pharmacists be created in government hospitals.
“There are several pharmacists in urban PHCs, who, even after being recruited and having worked for more than eight years, are getting only consolidated pay. These workers must be regularised and given timescale pay,” he added.
Pharmacists also sought that in PHCs their work shift must be fixed from 9.00am to 4.00pm.
They would send letters to the principal secretary of health and family welfare throughout this week to press for their demands.