Relief for Pharmacy Graduates: Uttarakhand Plans to Open Govt Pharmacist Posts for B.Pharma Holders

Officials from the department told Live Hindustan that a proposal is being drafted to reinstate and add nearly 1,000 pharmacist posts that were earlier discontinued under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). The planned expansion aims to ensure better medicine distribution and improved pharmaceutical support within the public health system.

Uttarakhand currently has more than 15,000 students pursuing BPharma programmes, many of whom have long demanded inclusion in government recruitment. Pharmacy graduates and professional associations have repeatedly urged authorities to recognize their qualifications for public sector positions, arguing that degree holders possess deeper technical knowledge and clinical understanding.

Health Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat has confirmed that both the revision of eligibility norms and the increase in pharmacist posts are under active review. He has instructed departmental officials to prepare a detailed proposal for submission and approval, reports Live Hindustan.

The decision - once implemented - will mark a major reform in the state’s pharmacist recruitment policy, finally extending eligibility to BPharma graduates and expanding job opportunities in the healthcare sector.