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The Pharmacy Council clarifies
Dear Editor;
The Pharmacy Council of Guyana is greatly concerned about the letter printed in the Kaieteur News dated April 4th 2016 entitled “U.G. PHARMACY GRADUATE SPEAKS OF WORRYING INJUSTICE”. In regard to the issues raised by the author of the letter please note the following:
• In Accordance with the Pharmacy Practitioners Act No. 9 of 2003, Part II (f) one of the functions of the Pharmacy Council is to “Establish, maintain and develop an Internship Programme”. The Pharmacy Council of Guyana is therefore acting within the Law in seeking to organise and Implement Internship Programmes.
• The Pharmacy Practitioners Act No. 9 of 2003 is one of the subject areas taught as part of the Forensic Pharmacy course at the University of Guyana.
ALL Bachelor of Science Pharmacy students were required to do this course, Hence, they all are aware of the Internship Programme.
Additionally, the 2014 Bachelor of Science Pharmacy graduates met with the members of the Pharmacy Council in February 2015 at the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, for discussions on the Internship Programme and the way forward.
• The Internship Programme is not only a requirement in Guyana but throughout the world. For example, the University of the West Indies, Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy graduates are required to do Internship.
Please note that Medical Practitioners do their one year internship after graduating from University.
• The Pharmacy Council’s respectful position is that the implementation of the internship is not a case of “Backwardness” as stated in the article but an attempt to comply with the law and to ensure that the graduates are well grounded, not only theoretically but practically also.
The steps taken by the Pharmacy Council of Guyana are to ensure that the best quality service is offered by the Pharmacists to the public irrespective of whether they operate in the public sector or the private sector.
• Regarding the registration of practicing Pharmacists who hold Associate of Science Degrees, please note that these Pharmacists received their qualification to practise as Pharmacists prior to the commencement of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. Also these Pharmacists have years of experience on the Job.
They were engaged in periods of attachment at various institutions and pharmacies after their graduation exercises.
In addition, Section 8(2) of the Pharmacy Practitioners Act states that a person who was registered as a pharmacist under Part 111 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance 1956, immediately prior to coming into force of this Act is here by deemed to be registered as a pharmacist under this Act without application on the part of the person, and pending the actual entry of his name in the register he shall be deemed to be duly registered.
Also Sec 10 (1) (c) states that “Any person who applies to the Council to be registered as a pharmacist shall, satisfy the Council that he holds a diploma or degree obtained by examination after attending a pharmacy school approved by the Council.
• The Pharmacy Assistant Programme that is organized and implemented by the Ministry of Public Health is of eighteen (18) months duration and four (4)) months attachment is done during and after training. There is no three (3) months Pharmacy Assistant Programme at the Ministry of Public Health.
• Finally in the letter the writer said “Four years at the University to earn a meager $56,000 or there about.” Please note that the Pharmacy Council of Guyana has nothing to do with earnings.
That is not the function of the Pharmacy Council of Guyana. However, a suggestion on stipend is mentioned in the draft of the Internship programme.
Carl A. Bacchus
Chairman, Pharmacy
Council of Guyana
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