Pharmacists ask for awards, Azad agrees

An award will be instituted soon for recognising the services of pharmacists, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Friday after a senior official demanded it.

An award will be instituted soon for recognising the services of pharmacists, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in New Delhi on Friday after a senior official demanded it.

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Indian Pharmacy Council president B. Suresh demanded an award for pharmacists, similar to those given to doctors and nurses, at a seminar on recent trends in pharmacy education and practice.

“I personally appreciate the idea behind giving awards,” Azad said.

“When I was the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, we instituted a Gold Medal for government officials based on their service. That award helped me get the building of our assembly ready in just 11 months," he said.

Azad's enthusiasm was not only appreciated by the members of the pharmacy council but also by President Pratibha Patil who inaugurated the seminar.

“The spirit of the minister is commendable,” Patil said adding that “he is very fast in catching good suggestions”.