The four-year Diploma in Pharmacy and Medical Technology courses under the Ministry of Health face widespread discrimination compared to Diploma Courses under the Ministry of Education in various aspects, including recruitment, grading, and opportunities for higher education. However, pharmacists and medical technologists are indispensable for enhancing the quality of health services. Physicians often rely on medical technologists for accurate diagnoses; the medical technologists then forward the diagnosis to doctors, who prescribe appropriate medication.
Diploma pharmacists ensure proper distribution of medication, prevention of antibiotic resistance, and combat misuse of drugs. Despite their crucial roles, thousands of them are deprived of employment in government service due to irregular appointments in these professions.
A recent circular from the Ministry of Public Administration has once again neglected to include pharmacists and medical technologists in the standard recruitment of government hospitals. The World Health Organization recommends appointing five medical technologists for every doctor, a guideline overlooked by the ministry. Pharmacists also face discrimination, despite the increasing pressure on government hospitals due to rising medication costs and outpatient demand. Although various service programmes, such as NCD Corner and Eye Corner, require pharmacists, many pharmacists with diplomas from public and private institutions remain unemployed.
It is imperative to implement the policy of appointing one pharmacist for every ten beds in government hospitals to address this crisis. Additionally, under the Ministry of Education, professionals with similar diplomas in fields like engineering and agriculture enter the 10th grade at the start of their careers, while pharmacists and medical technologists in healthcare diplomas enter the 11th grade---a case of clear disparities. While medical technologists have some nominal opportunities for higher education, diploma pharmacists are directly deprived of such opportunities.
Due to this discrimination, many students are discouraged from pursuing healthcare diploma courses, leading to a significant number of vacant seats in various government institutions every year. This trend poses a grave threat to health education in the country.
To address this situation, the Ministry of Health must implement policies aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, appoint pharmacists according to bed ratios in government hospitals, and create pathways for smart and skilled manpower development by providing opportunities for 10th grade and higher education.
Motasim Billah Munna
Pharmacist& Columnist,
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