Pharmacy owners want to hire foreigners over Rs100 fee controversy

The introduction of a Rs100 “professional fee” for pharmacists has reportedly been postponed, but not abandoned. 

Even Pharmacy owners have now joined the fray to contest the Pharmacy Council’s controversial decision to impose Rs100 for ‘professional fee’, and they are not in for a joke.

“It’s an exaggeration, because pharmacists are paid well enough,” Defi Media cited pharmacy owners as saying.

The Pharmacy Council claimed it was a way to “professionalise the system.”

According to the PRB 2021 report, the monthly salary of a public pharmacist is Rs 31,525 for the first three years. It increases to Rs 37,450 for up to 10 years of service. Beyond that, the basic salary reaches Rs 44,800.

In the private sector, a pharmacist can earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000. 

In wake of the “unwarranted and unjustified debates”, several pharmacy owners are reportedly considering bringing in foreigners to work as pharmacists.

Requests have reportedly been made to this effect to the Ministry of Health. The applications have not been approved, yet.

Pharmacists reacted claiming there are already many foreigners working in the healthcare sector.