|
The Kerala state committee of the Federation of Indian Pharmacist Organizations (FIPO) has called for the immediate removal of Dr. Montu Patel from the post of president of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and the dissolution of the PCI executive committee, citing serious corruption charges that have allegedly tarnished the reputation of the pharmacy profession across the nation.
In a scathing statement issued to Pharmabiz on July 15, FIPO highlighted the decision of the state committee meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram, where the organization accused Patel of being at the centre of a ‘massive bribery scandal’ involving unauthorized approvals to substandard pharmacy colleges and fraudulent pharmacist registrations.
The pharmacists’ body further stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its ongoing probe, has reportedly found evidence of ‘multi-crore bribes and illicit approvals’ facilitated under Dr. Patel's leadership. The organization emphasized that media reports claiming Dr Patel is currently absconding, even as national newspapers and visual media continue to expose the scandal daily, underscore the urgency of the situation.
Despite these revelations, FIPO expressed dismay that the Union Government has remained silent, stating, ‘a stance that FIPO strongly condemns.’
The organization also raised concerns over the PCI's recent trend of introducing ‘unverified online mechanisms’ for granting pharmacy institution approvals and issuing pharmacist registrations. FIPO asserts that these moves have opened the door to unqualified individuals entering the profession, thereby compromising public safety and healthcare standards.
‘The future of thousands of qualified pharmacy graduates, including those holding Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degrees, is in jeopardy due to these unethical practices. At a time when many of them are struggling to secure employment, it is unacceptable that fake pharmacists and institutions are thriving under a corrupt system’, says the statement issued by the organisation.
In the wake of the allegations, FIPO urged the central government to intervene immediately, remove the tainted leadership of the PCI, and take steps to restore the integrity and credibility of the pharmacy profession in India.
The statement was signed by Premandan M K, secretary of the FIPO, Kerala state committee.
|