Students and staff of KIIT School of Pharmacy as well as Pharmacist staff of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences jointly celebrated the 10th World Pharmacist Day. The theme of the celebration was “Pharmacist – Meeting Global Health needs”. The celebration started with a Hackathon (Silent Pharma Rally) with about more than 100 Pharmacists from 6 to 8 pm. The Principal of the KIIT School of Pharmacy, Prof. U.L. Narayan inaugurated the Hackathon. The objective of the Hackathon was to educate the society about the importance of pharmacists in the health care system. In the noon, a meeting was carried out at KIMS auditorium, graced by Mrs. Mamina Patnaik (Drug Controller of Odisha), AVM Prof. (Dr.) R.C. Dash (Medical Superintendent, KIMS), Dr. R.N. Samanta (Advisor to Founder, KIMS), Prof. (Brig) Dr. Ambika Prasad Mohanty (Principal, KIMS), Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahapatra (Director, Allied Medical Sciences, and Prof. (Dr.) Ulna Laxmi Narayan (Principal, KIIT School of Pharmacy. All other higher officials of KIMS Hospital and Medical College, Principals, faculties, etc. were present in the meeting. About more than 200 Pharmacists were present in the meeting. All invited dignitaries addressed the gathering about the importance of the day, theme, role of Pharmacist in the health care system in the globe and their importance in the Society. The Pharmacist have wide responsibility starting from new drug molecule discovery, dosage form preparation, their research, manufacturing, marketing, packaging, regulatory affairs, Pharmacovigilance issue, Clinical role as Hospital Pharmacist starting from drug dispensing, patient counselling, prescription auditing, medical coding, and many more. The students were suggested to acquire updated knowledge in the Pharmacy profession, as they will be future Pharmacists with Digital and Artificial Intelligence. The meeting was followed with prize ceremony and cultural activities.
