Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling said that the Odisha government has authorized 1,108 new pharmacy officer positions and reorganized the pharmacy cadre following a 39-year wait. As part of the cadre reorganization, the Minister stated that a job chart outlining the roles and obligations of pharmacists has also been created. He called this a critical step for the pharmaceutical community.
While addressing the annual state conference and general council meeting hosted by the Odisha Pharmacy Officers’ Service Association at Rama Devi Women’s University here, Mahaling made the news. Speaking to the assembly, the Minister stated that pharmacists in the state have long called for the reorganization of the pharmaceutical cadre. The Minister stated that the state government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been working to define the rights, responsibilities, and roles of various groups of healthcare workers as well as to improve human resources in the health sector.
He said that reorganizing the pharmacy cadre was a crucial step in bolstering the state’s healthcare infrastructure. According to Mahaling, the government has also authorized the employment of 1,108 new pharmacy officers, and the positions will be filled as soon as possible. The Minister added that the government has taken into account the association’s request to adopt the Pharmacists Council of India Recruitment and Promotion Service Rules, 2025, which have been put into effect in 20 states.
He said detailed guidelines had been provided regarding the duties and responsibilities of pharmacy officers to ensure greater clarity in their roles. Pharmacists play an important role in the healthcare system by dispensing medicines to patients, ensuring their safe use and providing medication-related advice, Mahaling said.
