The Amrita School of Pharmacy actively observed the National Pharmacy Week during November 19 – 23, 2012 at the Health Sciences campus. Pharmacist in Public Health – this year’s theme, inspired faculty members and students to organize various activities to help increase awareness among the general public about the profession of pharmacy and the role of a pharmacist in the healthcare team.

Inaugurating the activities, Mr. Hibi Eden, MLA of Ernakulam constituency, lamented about the fact that although Kerala had the highest literacy rate in India, many in the state practiced self medication, and did not abide by the physician’s prescriptions.

“In this scenario, programs such as these, will make society more aware about the role of the pharmacist in the health care system,” he emphasized.

“The pharmacist has an important role to play in educating people about the judicious and rational use of medicines,” added Dr. Prathapan Nair, Principal, Amrita School of Medicine.

The next few days saw students and faculty members participate in programs for drug use awareness and patient counseling through street plays, quiz and poster competitions.

They visited patients in the hospital and in houses around the campus to counsel about the proper use of medicines, the consequences of drug abuse and lifestyle modifications needed for preventing diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Second-year and third-year Pharm. D. students performed street plays on these themes at various locations, both on campus and outside, such as Ernakulam North and South junctions, Marine Drive, Vyttila Mobility Hub, Oberon Mall, Edappally Toll and Changampuzha Park.

Students also encouraged viewers and participants to sign consent forms for cadaver-organ donation and blood donation.

On November 22, the college hosted a South-Zone Pharma Quiz Contest. Students from College of Pharmaceutical Sciences placed first, while students from Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram and St. Joseph’s College of Pharmacy, Cherthala bagged the second and third prizes respectively.

Pharm. D. students won prizes in a poster competition.

Invited speakers enlightened students about GMP Practice in Pharmaceutical Industries and Comparison of Hospital Pharmacy Services in India and Abroad. The former topic was discussed by Sri P. Ramesh, Senior General Manager, Operation & Tech, Micro Labs Ltd. Hosur, Tamil Nadu and the latter by K. Chandrasekaran, Sr. Manager & Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Division, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore.

On the last day, the valedictory function was attended by Justice K. Narayana Kurup, Former Judge, High Court of Kerala; Sri. M. R. Pradeep, Assistant Drug Controller, Ernakulam and Sri. G. Radhakrishnan Nair, Registrar, Kerala State Pharmacy Council.

“Our Chancellor, Amma, often says that grace and effort are interdependent, without one the other is hard to obtain. I believe that it was the immense amount of hard work put forth by all the faculty and students of the school and divine grace that made National Pharmacy Week celebrations so successful,” noted Dr. Sabitha M., Principal, Amrita School of Pharmacy.

November 27, 2012
School of Pharmacy, Kochi