Mizoram Becomes Second State in the North East to announce PPR 2015

Following in the footsteps of Nagaland, the Government of Mizoram in the country's north-east has notified the Pharmacy Practise Regulations (PPR) 2015, which rigorously demand that only licenced chemists can administer pharmaceuticals on the prescription of registered medical practitioners. The department of health and family welfare indicated in a recent notification that the decision of the council of ministers to implement PPR 2015 was conveyed to the Governor of the state, and with his permission, it was notified for immediate implementation.

Dr Lalsawma Pachuau, president of the Mizoram State Pharmacy Council (MSPC), informed sources about the notification, saying the state government has been working on the proposal given by the state pharmacy council and the pharmacist association for consideration of the PPR 2015 for several years. He stated that a council meeting will be conducted to consider how the regulations should be enforced in Mizoram. "Pharmacists can now practise independently, and the state pharmacy council will consider how the regulations can be implemented in the state.

" First and foremost, we intend to appoint pharmacy inspectors and open drug counselling facilities with the participation of Pharm D qualified individuals. There will be 40 Pharm D graduates allocated to counselling centres across Mizoram. All subsequent moves will be decided by the MSPC's executive committee. "I also intend to call a couple of meetings of all pharmacy stakeholders to share their comments and suggestions on PPR implementation," Lalsawma told sources. Dr. Lalhlenmawia, PCI member from Mizoram and the HoD of the Central University of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Mizoram, said this notification of PPR 2015 is a big development for the pharmacy profession in Mizoram. After a lot of struggles and efforts taken by the state pharmacy council the government has now cleared the implementation part of the regulations. He said the MSPC, the drugs control department and the state pharmacists associations have worked hard to get it cleared by the state government.

Hailing the MSPC president and the registrar, Lalhlenmawia said from now on the pharmacists in Mizoram will carry out their profession in a dignified manner with professional freedom. Dr. Lalsawma Pachuau, who is also the drug controller of Mizoram, said there are 900 registered pharmacists and 800 pharmacies including government hospital-dispensing centres in Mizoram. As of now, there are two pharmacy colleges, one is under central government control and another one is under the private sector. He said all the provisions of the PPR will be implemented in a time-bound manner and he is happy to spearhead the professional area of pharmacy to a fully regulated professional sector.