PHARMACISTS AND DEALERS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES, REGULATIONS, DR. SALIM

Iringa Regional Medical Officer (RMO). Dr. Robert Salim (R) is listening students at the “Pharmacists Day “celebration organized by the Tanzania Pharmaceutical Student Association (TAPSA), a branch of the Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU) yesterday. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

A cross-section of students at the " Pharmacists Day " celebration organized by the Tanzania Pharmaceutical Student Association (TAPSA), a branch of the Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU) yesterday. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

Pharmacists and dealers with pharmaceuticals have been asked to comply with the rules, regulations and procedures for selling pharmaceuticals.

This was commented yesterday by Iringa Regional Medical Officer (RMO). Dr. Robert Salim at the " Pharmacists Day " celebration organized by the Tanzania Pharmaceutical Student Association (TAPSA), a branch of the Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU) for sponsorship of the Austrian Leprosy Relief Association in collaboration with the Action Medeor.

Tanzania Pharmaceutical students' Association (TAPSA) is an autonomous, non-political, non-profit, student association committed to serve Pharmaceutical Students and general public at large.

These celebrations were in line with the statement, 'THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG RESISTANCE IS FOR EVERYONE OF US”

Dr. Salim said pharmacists and traders should sell drugs based on the rules, regulations and procedures for example, selling drugs based on prescription and preserving medication well.

He said the fifth phase government is aimed bringing the country into the middle income of the economy through the industrialization policy.

He requested all colleges and universities in the country to prepare young people to open pharmaceutical and medical equipment business as many raw materials are available in Tanzania.

"There are forests, cotton, and gypsum and so on which are great treasures of making natural medicine," said Dr. Salim.

He also urged students who graduated from their studies to initiate small-scale pharmaceutical industries, in order to fulfill the government policy commitment of the industry, which would help reduce the problem of youth unemployment in the country.

In addition, Chairman of TAPSA-RUCU ​​ Ndamo Adam said that the drug resistance is an epidemic that threatens the country, especially countries in sub-Saharan region.

He said the fight against antibiotics is one of the main reasons why all the drugs used to cure infectious diseases can be affected by drug fraud.

Adam explained that drug resistance is a condition that cannot kill or prevent the growth of parasites, thus creating antibiotic resistance.

"Commonly used medicines such as Ampicilin, Ciprofloxacin, Tetracycilin, Erythromycin, Metronidazole, Amoxicilin, Chloramphenicol and Griseofulvin are more affected," said Adam.

He said that one of the problems that cause pharmaceuticals to become resistant was by using the incorrect 'doses' for a certain disease and use of antibiotics to treat antibiotics that do not require antibiotic.

For his part, a pharmacist, pharmacy tutor and head of pharmaceutical department at Ruaha University (RUCU) Gasper Baltazary said that the anti-drug resistance campaign must be sustainable.

He noted that there is a significant need for proper diagnosis (for tests), drug delivery at appropriate dose (samples), timely, taking into account the doctor's requirements as well as providing non-rehabilitation drugs.

Baltazary said that the pharmacy day is one of the duties of the TAPSA where the aim is to bring students and various health care professionals to discuss the health-care issues.

He said that lack of education is the main source towards pharmaceuticals resistance, so the community and traders stop using medication without making tests and selling drugs for the purpose of getting money respectively.

World Pharmacists Day was the brainchild of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), with the council of this organization voting to establish the event in the late 2000s during a conference they staged in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The aim of the day is to bring attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health and FIP encourages all its members to get involved to make the event a success.