The National Pharmacy Week celebrations 2016 by Amrita School of Pharmacy commenced from 21^st November, 2016. The theme of this year’s pharmacy week as per Indian Pharmacy Association was “Pharmacists for a Healthy India; Role in Prevention and Management of Diabetes.”

The celebrations started with an inaugural address by Principal, Dr. Sabitha M. She highlighted the role of future pharmacists for achieving a healthy India and in the prevention and management of diabetes. Oral presentations by Pharm. D. I-VI^th year (interns) and M. Pharm. students were conducted on different topics related to diabetes mellitus. A poster competition was also held. All the selected posters were displayed in the atrium of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) throughout the week. Oral presentations were conducted in the seminar hall of Amrita School of Pharmacy on 21^st and 22^nd November.

The Department of Pharmacy Practice, Amrita School of Pharmacy, organized a quiz competition for the B. Pharm., Pharm. D. and M. Pharm. students. Six teams of four students participated in the preliminary written exam which was held on 23^rd November and 4 teams were selected for the final level. The final quiz was on 25^th November and the team of 5^th year Pharm. D. and M. Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice) students won the first prize.

Street plays were performed in the atrium and B block of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences on 26^th November by Pharm. D. II year and Pharm. D. VI year students on the topic “Rational Use of Medicines and Diabetes and its Current Issues”. The animated and engaging performances by the students were much appreciated and the messages were conveyed to general public.

As part of the Pharmacy Week celebration, Pharm. D. II year and Pharm. D. VI year students and a few faculty members were actively involved in the medical camp arranged by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences at Wadakanchery, Thrissur, Kerala, on 4^th December. They were engaged in dispensing, counselling and blood-glucose monitoring. The health camp was organized with the objective of providing free medical examinations/check-ups and making aware the public about the proper use of medicines. Approximately 1500 people attended the camp. The event started with an inauguration by Hon. Minister for Industries and Sports, Sri. A. C. Moideen. The team offering the camp included doctors from various departments: General Medicine, Paediatrics, Dentistry and Ophthalmology. Pharm. D. 6^th year (interns) and faculty members were engaged in counselling patients about medicines and distributing patient information leaflets about diabetes mellitus and about the usage of insulin, with the view of with promoting the National Pharmacy Week’s theme for the year 2016, “Pharmacists for a Healthy India; Role in Prevention and Management of Diabetes.” Students also showcased their street plays in the camp.

The closing ceremony of National Pharmacy Week celebration was held on 10^th December, 2016, at the 4th floor seminar hall of Amrita School of Pharmacy. It started on an auspicious note with a prayer followed by the welcome address by Principal, Dr. Sabitha M., Amrita School of Pharmacy. The welcome address was followed by the official release of the magazine ‘Amrita Darshanam 2016’. The first session was handled by Dr. Sonal Sekhar M., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences on the topic ‘Expanding Diabetes Research – A Personal Experience’ and the second session by Dr. Arun S. Menon, Assistant Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences on the topic “’Management of Diabetes- Facts and Myths’. This was followed by a street play by Pharm. D. 6^th year (interns). The audience thoroughly enjoyed their performance. They were given trophies and certificates for their excellent performance and enthusiasm in staging street plays for the past 4 years. This was followed by prize distribution for poster competition and quiz competition in which the first places were secured by Pharm. D. 5thyear students and Pharm. D. 5^th year and M. Pharm 1st year students respectively. The cash prize of Rs. 1500 was won by Pharm. D. 4^th year students for their excellent oral presentation. This was followed by a street play by Pharm. D. 2^nd year students. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Naveen Kumar Panicker, Lecturer, Department of Pharmacy Practice. The programme concluded with National Anthem.