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 The Karnataka Pharma Retailers & Distributors Organization (KPRDO) has urged the state government to officially recognize and felicitate pharmacists for their invaluable contribution to the healthcare system on World Pharmacists Day, observed annually on September 25.
The organization stated that pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring safe and effective use of medicines, promoting public health, and providing essential healthcare services, and deserve formal recognition for their dedication and commitment to serving society.
In a communication to the state government, C Jayaram, president, and VV Kapparshettar, secretary, KPRDO said that in Karnataka more than 80,000 pharmacists are working in different pharma sectors like, retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, pharma manufacturing companies, government departments and as enforcement officers among others spread all over the state.
Considering the vital role pharmacists play across the healthcare continuum, from prescription review, medication dispensing to adverse drug reaction monitoring, medication safety, and patient counselling, it is essential that their contributions are recognized and celebrated. Pharmacists are integral members of the healthcare team, ensuring the safe, effective, and rational use of medicines while improving patient outcomes, they said.
Here, the World Pharmacists Day provides an ideal opportunity to acknowledge their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to public health. In fact, the day belongs to every pharmacist. It is an opportunity to celebrate our profession, recognize the dedication and expertise of pharmacists, and strengthen the bonds within our pharmacy fraternity, said Jayaram.
Unfortunately, Central and state governments are recognizing and felicitating other fields of services but have not recognized Pharmacist's contribution in spite of their outstanding efforts during Covid-19 pandemic phase and many succumbed to the virus, said Kapparshettar.
In 2025, KPRDO office bearers during their meetings with the Karnataka Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner have brought up this issue. After which 12 pharmacists who had made outstanding contributions and created a distinct impact were honoured with State Awards. In addition, similar award functions were conducted at the district level too. Now on this forthcoming World Pharmacists Day 2026 on 25 September with the theme ‘Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures’, our request is to have a similar felicitation event, said Jayaram and Kapparshettar.
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