In honor of National Pharmacy Week (NPW), the Kerala chapter of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) will host five regional events throughout the state, starting November 21.
The festivities will commence in the state capital and conclude at Kottayam Medical College. These events are organized in partnership with universities, pharmacy schools, and the student arm of the association.
Dr. P Jayasekhar, Kerala IPA’s president, stated that the pharmacy week celebrations aim to highlight the significant contributions and services that pharmacists and the pharmaceutical community provide to the healthcare sector. He added that the association’s call for community outreach initiatives has been enthusiastically embraced by other organizations and pharmacy schools, ensuring a grand NPW celebration.
Under the IPA’s guidance, a comprehensive range of activities will occur in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Chalakudy, Kozhikode, and Kannur. Attendees can look forward to seminars, medical camps, discussions, student and pharmacist competitions, awareness rallies, health exhibitions, cultural performances, and community service events at these venues.
The NPW inaugural ceremony on November 21 will be held at Mar Dioscrosu College of Pharmacy in Thiruvananthapuram. K Jayakumar, director of the Institute of Management in Government and former chief secretary, will be the chief guest, while Dr. Mathew Thomas, the director of medical education, will serve as the guest of honor. Post-inauguration, the event will feature three seminars and student contests.
In the northern region, festivities will take place at Anjarakkandy’s College of Pharmacy in Kannur. Dr. Kiron SS, IPA joint secretary, and Dr. Robin Jose, the college principal, will spearhead the public program, including seminars and student competitions.
The NPW’s concluding ceremony will occur on November 23 at 9:30 am in the Kottayam Medical College conference hall. State Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan will inaugurate the event, and Dr. C P Vijayam, pro-vice chancellor of Kerala Health University, will be the chief guest. Following the opening, seminars and student competitions centered on this year’s theme will be held.
Additionally, on the same day, separate celebration programs will be organized at JDT Islam College of Pharmacy in Kozhikode. These include theme-focused seminars and student activities like quizzes, elocution contests, and poster presentations.
Notably, the student competitions for those from Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts will be hosted at St. James College of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Chalakudy on November 23, according to Dr. Jayasekhar. He mentioned that students from 56 pharmacy schools would participate in these competitive activities.